A provocative social media post from a close ally of former President Donald Trump has ignited international alarm and raised fresh fears that the United States may seek to annex Greenland, following dramatic military action in Venezuela.
Cryptic Post Fuels Annexation Speculation
Hours after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Katie Miller, the wife of Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, shared an incendiary post. The conservative podcaster posted a map of Greenland, the Danish autonomous territory, overlaid with the American flag, captioned with a single, ominous word: 'SOON.'
The post, interpreted by many as a call for a US takeover, triggered immediate outrage in Greenland and Denmark. The Arctic island is prized for its vast untapped mineral resources and its strategic position, but it is also an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark and a member of NATO.
Denmark Issues a Firm Diplomatic Rebuke
The Danish response was swift and unequivocal. Jesper Moller Sorensen, Denmark's ambassador to the US, reposted Miller's message with a pointed 'friendly reminder' of the two nations' alliance. 'Just a friendly reminder about the US and the Kingdom of Denmark: We are close allies and should continue to work together as such,' Sorensen wrote.
He emphasised that Greenland is already part of NATO and detailed significant Danish investment in Arctic security, including a commitment of USD 13.7 billion for 2025 alone. The ambassador concluded firmly: 'And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.'
Danish PM Vows to 'Stand Firm' Amid Escalating Tensions
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen used her annual New Year's address to deliver a powerful condemnation of the perceived threats from Washington. Without naming Trump directly, she blasted 'threats, pressure, derogatory language from our closest ally for a lifetime.'
'Wanting to take over another country, other people. As if it were something you could buy and own. It doesn't belong anywhere,' she stated. Frederiksen announced a rapid military build-up, declaring, 'Never before have we increased our military strength so significantly. So quickly.'
The prime minister linked Arctic security to broader European defence, warning, 'If we let one country fall first, then the way is paved for Russia to advance further into Europe.'
Backdrop of Venezuelan Intervention and Polling Reality
The speculation around Greenland follows the US military operation in Venezuela, where Maduro and his wife were taken into custody on drug trafficking charges. During a subsequent press conference, Trump declared the US would run Venezuela indefinitely.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who serves as a special envoy to Greenland, praised Trump's actions. However, the idea of a Greenland takeover faces overwhelming local opposition. A January 2025 poll by Verian found that 85% of Greenland's 57,000 residents do not wish to join the United States.
The territory, while self-governing, remains financially dependent on Denmark, which has now drawn a clear line in the Arctic ice against any challenge to its sovereignty.
