U.S. President Trump Threatens Greenland Annexation as Western Hemisphere ‘Expansion’ Plan Ignites Alarm

President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his calls for U.S. military control of Denmark’s territory of Greenland, declaring the Arctic island “covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place” and insisting it must be secured for American national security interests. The remarks followed a U.S. military operation in Venezuela and underscored Trump’s administration’s push to expand its influence across the Western Hemisphere.

Trump told reporters during his return to Washington from Florida: “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.” He also claimed he would address the issue “in … 20 days,” while suggesting Greenland’s strategic value demands U.S. jurisdiction over the mineral-rich territory.

Denmark has long maintained that it grants the United States broad access to Greenland through existing security agreements under NATO. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned Trump’s remarks, stating he “has no right to annex” the territory and urging the U.S. to stop threatening “a historically close ally.” The kingdom also signed a European Union statement affirming Venezuela’s right to self-determination as Trump vowed to “run” the country following its political upheaval.

Trump’s rhetoric intensified concerns in Cuba, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of Cuban involvement in Venezuela’s leadership transition. Rubio claimed Cuban officials guarded Nicolás Maduro during his capture and managed internal intelligence operations within his government. Trump described Cuba’s economy as “in tatters,” blaming it on years of U.S. sanctions and Maduro’s rule, adding: “It’s going down for the count.”

Cuban authorities condemned the U.S.-backed operation in Venezuela, stating regional nations must remain vigilant against threats. Residents like 55-year-old biochemical laboratory worker Bárbara Rodríguez expressed fear that Trump’s policies could target their nation: “We have always been in the crosshairs.”

The issue of Greenland resurfaced under Trump after months of relative silence when he appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to oversee its integration into U.S. jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Rubio reiterated his stance on Cuba, calling it a dictatorship and vowing to prevent the region from becoming “a base of operation for adversaries.”

Trump has repeatedly framed his vision for the Western Hemisphere through historical references to the Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary, though critics argue such moves risk destabilizing alliances with NATO allies like Denmark.