As Air Force One lifted off from Palm Beach, speculation about a major U.S. geopolitical move spread quickly. President Trump’s latest actions have left both allies and rivals watching closely.
Trump departed Palm Beach, Florida, heading back to Washington, D.C., following the U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Onboard Air Force One, Bloomberg TV correspondent Annmarie Hodern reported that Trump outlined his reasoning behind the operation and broader intentions. When asked who was in charge, he replied provocatively, “It means we’re in charge,” adding that Venezuela had taken U.S. oil and that reopening an embassy in Caracas was under consideration.
Through his RapidResponse47 X account, Trump shared his regional strategy, stating, “We want neighboring countries to be stable and successful, and to allow oil to flow freely. That keeps prices down, which benefits our country.” White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins added that Trump also mentioned Greenland, joking, “We’ll worry about Greenland in two months… let’s talk about it in 20 days.”
Concerns over Greenland
The operation in Venezuela sparked renewed speculation about U.S. intentions toward Greenland, a territory Trump has described as strategically important. Hours after Maduro’s arrest on drug trafficking charges, Katie Miller, wife of Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Steven Miller, posted an image of Greenland overlaid with the U.S. flag, captioned simply, “SOON.”
The post provoked swift backlash from Greenlanders and Denmark, which governs the territory. Jesper Moller Sorensen, Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., responded by emphasizing the close alliance and security cooperation between Denmark and the United States. He highlighted Greenland’s NATO membership and Denmark’s $13.7 billion Arctic defense investment in 2025, underscoring the expectation of respect for territorial integrity.
Denmark strengthens defense
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the notion of a U.S. takeover, calling it unacceptable and affirming Denmark’s commitment to protecting its territory. In her New Year’s address, she said, “Wanting to take over another country is not something that belongs anywhere. We are strengthening Danish defense and preparedness like never before.” Frederiksen stressed that Denmark is taking proactive steps in the Arctic to ensure regional security and prevent Russian expansion.
Aftermath of the Caracas operation
Trump’s rhetoric about Greenland comes in the wake of a high-profile U.S. operation in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation involved strikes in Caracas that reportedly killed around 40 civilians and military personnel. Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, were later transported by helicopter to Manhattan, with U.S. troops sustaining minor injuries but no fatalities reported. Trump cited concerns about drug trafficking and criminal networks from Venezuela as a key motivation for the operation.
The events in Venezuela, combined with the Greenland speculation, underscore the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to foreign policy, keeping international observers on alert.
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