US Attack on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power competition 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary 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 must not take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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