US Attack on Caracas Raises Fears of Future Greenland Annexation.

Recent American strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global rivalry in the Arctic. "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 remarked.

He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.