Denmark tells Trump ‘stop the threats’ after Venezuela strike | World | News
Donald Trump has been told to “stop the threats” by the Danish Prime Minister, amid fears the US may try to take control of Greenland. It comes after Katie Miller, the wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller, posted a map of Greenland in the colours of the American flag alongside the word “SOON” on X.
Mette Frederiksen said it “makes absolutely no sense” to talk about the US taking over Greenland. The Danish Prime Minister added that Trump has “no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom”. She continued in a statement posted on the Danish government website: “I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale.”
The recent military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has sparked fears that the US could take over Greenland next. Greenland, an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, is seen as strategically important for defence and as a future source of mineral wealth.
Donald Trump has previously refused to rule out using force to secure control of Greenland. However, the Danish ambassador the US responded to the post by Ms Miller, giving a “friendly reminder” that they are allies.
US troops stormed the home of the Venezuelan leader in the early hours of Saturday morning (January 3) in an operation, according to Trump, on the scale of nothing seen since World War Two. Maduro is now in custody in the US and will stand trial on drug and weapons charges.
Trump has since confirmed that Venezuela will be ruled by the US for the unforeseeable future. He added that American oil companies would “start making money for the country”.
In a telephone interview this morning, Trump issued a new threat to Delcy Rodríguez, the new Venezuelan leader. The US President warned “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro”.
Trump also hinted that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to US intervention. As reported by The Atlantic, he added in the call: “We do need Greenland, absolutely.” The US leader described the island as “surrunded by Russian and Chinese ships”.
Greenland, which has a population of 57,000 people, has had self-government since 1979. However, its defence and foreign policy remain in the hands of Denmark.
