US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.

"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power competition in the polar region. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he stated.

He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.