The US military attack on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro have shocked the entire world. South American countries have criticized the Trump administration's actions, which violated a country's sovereignty and led to the capture of its supreme leader. Some European countries have also expressed concern. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken of taking similar action against other countries after the successful US military and CIA operation in Venezuela. He has threatened countries ranging from Cuba and Colombia to Iran, and has even expressed intentions to seize Greenland, located in the Arctic Ocean, through his statements.
Which countries has Trump warned after the attack on Venezuela?
Following the US military operation in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has issued strong warnings to several countries. These include Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, and Iran.
1. Colombia: In response to questions about Venezuela aboard Air Force One, Trump targeted Colombia and accused its president, Gustavo Petro, of running the country under the rule of a "sick man." Trump alleged that the country and its leader "like to make cocaine and sell it to the United States."
When asked if his administration might conduct an operation targeting Colombia, Trump replied, "I like that idea."
2. Iran: For the past several days, people in Iran have been taking to the streets to protest against the economic crisis, the slow pace of the economy, and the declining value of the Iranian currency, the rial. Trump has commented on these protests and hinted that his country could take action if any deadly force is used in Iran. Trump said, "If they (Iran) start killing people, as they have in the past, I think they will be very badly affected by the United States." 3. Cuba: Trump recently stated that the U.S. would not need military action against Cuba. He said the country is already on the verge of collapse because it has lost all its revenue from Venezuelan oil. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a harsher stance, calling Cuba a major problem and saying it is in serious trouble.
4. Greenland (Denmark): Following the attack on Venezuela, the U.S. president revived his long-held desire to control Greenland, claiming it is necessary for American security. He said, "We need Greenland." Trump even insisted that Denmark would not be able to manage it (Greenland).
However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed concern over Trump's attitude and rejected his comments. It was also reported that Trump had indicated a willingness to use force to seize the island.
5. Venezuela (Interim Leadership): Even after Maduro's arrest, Trump warned Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, that she would face serious consequences, even more severe than those imposed on Maduro, if she continued to defy U.S. demands. Trump explicitly stated that "we are in control" in Venezuela.
In short, after the Venezuela operation, Trump spoke out against at least five countries, including Colombia, Greenland, Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran.
In fact, Trump had said that the U.S. needed Greenland for its security. This statement has caused some alarm in Europe. Leaders in Greenland and Denmark also objected to Trump's statements made on January 4th (Sunday). Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Trump's comments, stating in a statement, "There is no point in talking about the United States needing to acquire Greenland." She added that the US has no right to acquire any of the three countries of the Danish realm.
Now, let's learn about Greenland: What is it, and how important is it strategically?
Greenland is an autonomous country. However, it is still part of the Kingdom of Denmark. This means that, indirectly, it is governed by the European country of Denmark. Greenland's domestic affairs are handled by its own government. This government oversees home affairs, as well as education, health, natural resources, and law enforcement. Its capital is Nuuk, from where all administrative functions are managed.
Meanwhile, Denmark handles Greenland's foreign affairs, defense, and financial policy. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the formal head of state of Greenland, while its elected government is led by Prime Minister Múte B. Egede.
The surprising thing is that Greenland itself is not part of Europe. It is part of the North American continent and is about 5000 km away from the United States (USA). In this respect, Greenland's strategic importance to the US increases. Due to its direct connection to the Arctic Ocean via the Greenland Sea, this entire region of Greenland holds significant strategic importance. Moreover, Greenland, spread over an area of 2.1 million square kilometers, is roughly equivalent to a quarter of the entire United States and has immense potential for development.
Why is Trump showing interest in Greenland?
It is estimated that 13 percent of the world's oil and 30 percent of its gas reserves, which remain untapped, are located in the Arctic. Considering Donald Trump's history, he has been quite positive about fossil fuels. Furthermore, Greenland has large reserves of coal, iron, copper, and zinc. Because of this, Trump has mentioned buying Greenland from Denmark on several occasions since becoming president.
In the period before 2010, when the electronic revolution was sweeping the world, American companies increased their dependence on China for rare earth minerals. As a result, China began mining in large parts of Africa for the rare earth minerals used in mobile phones, computers, and electric cars, and established its influence throughout the region. Due to China's growing monopoly on rare earth minerals and the aggressive policies of its president, Xi Jinping, the US is now looking for locations where it can secure access to these rare earth minerals. This is where Greenland comes into the picture, which caught Donald Trump's attention in 2019.
Greenland also has some of the world's largest reserves of rare earth minerals. These include reserves of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. In addition, the island has significant reserves of uranium and its byproduct, zinc. These crucial minerals are essential for the production of electronics, gadgets, and electric vehicles (EVs).
It is reported that in 2019, Trump had his eye on a company called Greenland Minerals, which is primarily Australian. This company began operations in 2007 at the Kvanefjeld mine on the peninsula, which holds vast reserves of rare earth elements. It is estimated that this region alone contains 100 million tons of rare earth minerals. This project is expected to become the largest outside of China in terms of rare earth mineral production in the coming years.
Have there been previous attempts to incorporate Greenland into the United States?
This is not the first time that a US president (Trump is the current president) has shown interest in Greenland. Bringing Greenland under its control is a 157-year-old dream for the United States. In 1867, William H. Seward, the Secretary of State under then-President Abraham Lincoln, proposed the idea of purchasing Greenland and Iceland. It is said that by 1868, an agreement between the US and Denmark to purchase Greenland and Iceland for the equivalent of $5.5 million in gold was almost finalized. However, the proposal was not pursued further.
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