US Actions in Venezuela Spark Fears Over Greenland Takeover Amid Arctic Security Concerns
The US bombardment of Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro in early 2026 have raised concerns about a potential US takeover of Greenland. This fear was amplified when a MAGA-aligned figure, Katie Miller, posted a map of Greenland draped with the US flag captioned “SOON.” The post was subsequently reposted by Danish ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen, who emphasized the longstanding defense ties between the US, Denmark, and Greenland, as well as a mutual respect for Greenland's territorial integrity. Denmark invested approximately $13.7 billion in 2025 on defense efforts in the Arctic and North Atlantic region.
Jeff Landry, governor of Louisiana and special Greenland envoy appointed by former President Donald Trump, welcomed Maduro’s toppling and framed it as part of efforts to combat drugs. Trump himself indicated that he does not rule out military action to gain control of Greenland, stating, “We need Greenland very badly.”
In March 2025, US Vice-President JD Vance visited the Pituffik base—the US’s northernmost military base in Greenland—which plays a central role in Arctic security considerations. However, by December 2025, Denmark’s Defence Intelligence Service labeled the US a security risk. Despite Greenland’s population of 57,000 largely favoring independence from Denmark, a poll conducted in January 2026 found that most residents do not wish to join the United States.
