Trump orders invasion plans for Greenland following Venezuela raid

The geopolitical landscape has been shaken by reports that US President Donald Trump has instructed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to draft contingency plans for a potential military invasion of Greenland. 

This move follows the dramatic success of Operation Absolute Resolve on January 3, 2026, which saw US special forces capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas.

Emboldened by the Venezuela operation, hardline advisors led by Stephen Miller are reportedly pushing for swift action in the Arctic. Their primary justification is to preempt any moves by Russia or China, which Washington claims are increasing their naval presence in the region.

The “Hard Way” warning and internal resistance

During a White House event on Friday, January 9, 2026, President Trump doubled down on his ambitions, framing the acquisition of Greenland as a matter of national survival. He stated that the US would do something about Greenland “whether they like it or not,” adding that while he would prefer a deal “the easy way,” he is prepared to do it “the hard way.” Trump dismissed Danish sovereignty claims, arguing that a boat landing there 500 years ago does not equate to permanent ownership in the face of modern security needs.

Daily Mail: President Trump ordered JSOC commanders to draft a Greenland invasion plan, led by advisor Stephen Miller, post-Venezuela success to preempt Russia/China. pic.twitter.com/36THv8Vbjb

— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) January 11, 2026

Despite this rhetoric, the proposal has met stiff resistance from the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Senior military commanders have reportedly labeled the plan “crazy and illegal,” noting it lacks both international legal standing and Congressional authorization. Some reports suggest that generals are attempting to distract the President by proposing alternative missions, such as intercepting Russian “ghost ships” used to evade sanctions, to avoid a confrontation with a NATO ally.

NATO at a crossroads and European defiance

The prospect of a US military intervention in Greenland has triggered a massive diplomatic rift and a crisis of confidence within NATO. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any US attack on a fellow alliance member would mean the end of NATO and the entire post-World War II security structure. In a rare display of unity, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain issued a joint statement reaffirming that Greenland belongs to its people and that its future is for Denmark and Greenland alone to decide.

In Greenland, political leaders from five major parties issued a blunt rejection of US pressure. Their joint statement declared that they do not wish to be Americans or Danes, but simply Greenlanders. This sentiment is echoed by the local population, many of whom fear that US interference will destroy the trust and stability currently existing between Nuuk and Copenhagen.

Context of the Venezuela precedent

The urgency surrounding the Greenland plans is directly linked to the January 3 raid in Venezuela. US special forces transported Maduro and Flores to a US ship before transferring them to New York to face federal charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. The Trump administration views this “smash-and-grab” raid as a successful blueprint for projecting American will, a logic they are now attempting to apply to the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic territory.

While the White House maintains that the military is “always an option,” US allies and international legal experts warn that a move on Greenland would fundamentally alter the global order. For now, a flurry of diplomacy is underway, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio scheduled to meet Danish and Greenlandic officials next week in an attempt to head off a total breakdown in transatlantic relations

(information from cnn.gr)