American Attack on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Future Greenland Annexation.

The recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in South America.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable media appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 characterized 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 Friction and Local Resistance

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.