US Attack on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our 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 ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Tensions and Local Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of Denmark and 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."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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