US Attack on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 remarked.

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

Growing Tensions and Local Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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