Donald Trump sets sights on Greenland as Denmark fires back with 'stop the threats' demand

He warned the Danish territory is currently surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships, meaning it is in America’s strategic interest to control the territory.

“We need it for defence,” he said, while confirming plans for officials in his administration to decide what comes next for the territory.

Denmark’s Prime Minister has urged the President to “stop the threats” about taking over Greenland, adding it “makes no sense.”

He said: “The US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom.”

His comments followed those of Katie Miller, the wife of one of Mr Trump’s aides, Stephen Miller, who tweeted a map of Greenland in the colours of the American flag with the caption “SOON.”

Denmark’s strategic position and rich mineral wealth have long been of interest to the US President, who has repeatedly raised the prospect of taking over.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the Prime Minister of Greenland, has hit out at the Trump administration this weekend, saying his remarks about the territory are “disrespectful,” adding the territory is “not for sale.”

The capture of the Venezuelan President has triggered concern as to what the American government might do next with its military operations in the Western Hemisphere.

An invasion of Greenland is deemed unlikely by analysts, who have pointed out that the Danish territory is a part of the NATO alliance with the US.

As the US grows increasingly distant from Europe, leaders are likely to grow concerned about Mr Trump’s threats the longer they continue.

Greenland has a population of 57,000 and has had extensive self-government since 1979, but its defence and foreign policy remain a matter for Denmark to handle.

Most Greenlanders are in favour of eventual independence from Denmark, but opinion polls show overwhelming opposition to becoming a part of the US.

Mr Trump will be keeping a keen eye on the activities of Delcy Rodríguez, Mr Maduro’s vice-president, in the coming days after she was sworn in as interim president by the country’s Supreme Court on Sunday.

Mr Trump warned that failure to cooperate with the US will result in her paying a “big price.”

“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” he told The Atlantic.

Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to appear in a Manhattan court on Monday, charged with narco-terrorism and possession of machine guns.

The pair are accused of kidnapping, beatings, and murder to sustain a drug-trafficking operation run by cartels using fake passports allegedly handed out by the president.

Venezuela was attacked using cyber warfare, which allowed helicopters to swoop in and capture Maduro, US officials revealed.

At least 40 people, including civilians, were killed in accompanying airstrikes, a Venezuelan official claimed.