US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 stated.

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

Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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