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US attack on Venezuela raises fears of future Greenland takeover
- Nux 9mo agoMy gut feeling is that it won't happen. It will antagonise not only Denmark, but the whole of Europe - govs & people - to a point where USA might find it's all alone in the world. That'll be the beginning of the end for the empire.
- thrance 9mo agoYou're thinking about it from a sane POV, but the people at the helm are insane. The only question is: would invading Greenland please Trump, yes or no?
- gspr 9mo agoBut on the other hand, Trump's treatment of Europe so far – especially in his second term – would be entirely shocking to the sensibilities of any westerner anno 2015. I'm not so sure the US isn't already steaming willingly towards lonesomeness and antagonizing all of its former friends.
- mft_ 9mo agoYou’re right, but it’s like that kid at school who’s a bully and a d*ck but everyone tolerates and stays kinda friendly with because they’re a bit scared of him, and his parents have the best house for parties. The US can probably go a lot further than they currently have, before a meaningful coalition of meaningful countries will do anything significant —even just economically or diplomatically— against them in return.
- embedding-shape 9mo agoUp until yesterday most of us felt the same about "Going into Venezuela and kidnap the president of a sovereign nation" but here we are. Sure, it was also not out of nowhere, but I don't think anyone thought Trump needed such an abrasive distraction from the internal conflicts in the nation. > to a point where USA might find it's all alone in the world. I think the US might be misleading itself if it doesn't realize that it already is. We still care for the people, but the government of the US has truly shown that it cannot be an ally today, and the rest of the world already realize this, seems the US is the last to understand it.
- riffraff 9mo agoI don't mean to downplay how terrible the current US administration is, but removing political leaders in Latin America has been a USA tradition and nobody really considers it odd. The US invading an allied country hasn't happened often.
- pojzon 9mo agoUS has pulled out soldiers from EU grounds. EU restarted domestic production of millitary equipment. Germany is making military draft mandatory again. Noone believes US will help like they did before (we know it was a two way deal but still..) The moment US left EU to Russia they are now all alone. NATO is just a name now.
- tim333 9mo agoThere are still ~80000 US troops in Europe. NATO is blemished but still there.
- Bridged7756 9mo agoTruly this attack on foreign soil is something without precedents for the USA. What's next, destabilize entire regions? Cause wars? Fund terrorists? Military occupation? No matter what, let's not forget Ukraine is being attacked by evil Russia.
- dataflow 9mo ago> Truly this attack on foreign soil is something without precedents for the USA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Panama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Pana...
- christophilus 9mo ago> Without precedent Other than probably hundreds of similar scenarios over the past 250 years or so, sure.
- SanjayMehta 9mo agoTrump has nothing to lose. He's almost 80, doesn't care for Europe or NATO, and is clearly desperate to be remembered for something significant. Kidnapping Maduro doesn't really ensure his name in the history books. But if he annexes Greenland and/or Canada, then he's the next Jefferson or Jackson. He might even rename Greenland+Canada to Trumpland.
- drivingmenuts 9mo agoI can't think of a realistic, non-cynical reason that doesn't begin and end with "oil" for even looking funny at Venezuela. The whole "drugs 'r bad" thing doesn't wash.
- SanjayMehta 9mo agoOther countries are run by an oligarchy, the US is run by an oilygarchy.
- lostmsu 9mo agoI'm guessing you don't consider drugs to be on the top 3 issues in the US.
- rascul 9mo agoSo few drugs come to the USA from Venezuela that if there's a list of issues, this is near the bottom in importance.
- tim333 9mo agoThere are a couple of things I can think of. There's the human rights stuff with torture chambers and a third of the population leaving which doesn't seem to bother Trump but the Venezuelans don't much like. There's also Maduro's dancing which seems to have been a thing oddly enough https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360920843/maduros-dancing-may-have-been-last-straw-trumps-team https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360920843/maduros-dancing...
- 9mo ago
- verzali 9mo agoThe beginning is already here, I think. At least things are very much not the same as they were a year ago.
- JohnFen 9mo agoExcept that our transformation into "the bad guys" is already complete. We no longer have the trust or respect of most of the world. The "end of the empire" is already well under way.
- tim333 9mo agoI don't think the US are the bad guys yet. More kind of random at the moment.
- watwut 9mo agoExcept that USA is already antagonizing Europe and literally talks about splitting it up, so that they can bully individual nations better.
- gcanyon 9mo agoIt's a YOLO presidency, so sure, why not? Time and time again we've cycled: 1. That's outrageous 2. He's joking 3. But what if he's not joking? 4. We're doing it Sometimes it stops at 2, but Trump is definitely like that awkward teenage boy who says to the girl he secretly likes, "What if we just, like, made out? That would be crazy, right?"
- password54321 9mo agoNothing new to anyone who follows what goes on in the rest of the world. The West (mostly Europe) just sat in comfort until Putin and now Trump and they are still adjusting to the fact that the world is actually very hostile.
- nxobject 9mo agoI wouldn’t be surprised if that ended up in acquiescence with America’s withdrawal from NATO.
- beardyw 9mo ago> the world is actually very hostile Solely because of greed.
- wolvoleo 9mo agoI don't really understand why Trump would want more money though. He's already got more than enough for a really comfortable rest of his life.
- xiphias2 9mo agoI still don't understand why some people wanted to capture Putin so much and now against Maduro capture when clearly Maduro has done something uncomparably worse to the people in his country. Greenland is of course a very different deal compared to Venezuela, it will be interesting to see the political push to the EU.
- 9mo ago
- jokoon 9mo agohum wouldn't the dutch use force to fight the US if the US ever attempted that? that could turn the EU into an enemy of the US
- Manfred 9mo ago*Danish
- valevk 9mo agoIn the latest national security strategy the US defined the EU as an enemy. Also, when you read the chats from that Signal group where a reporter was accidentally added, you can see the resentment those people feel towards the EU.
- andsoitis 9mo ago> In the latest national security strategy the US defined the EU as an enemy. I would love for you to quote out of the document how you come to that conclusion? https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-N... The section is "C. Promoting European Greatness", starting on p25.
- tordrt 9mo agoWhat? The whole Promoting European Greatness section is obviously an attack on the EU. They want to break it up. It states the goal is to help Europe operate as a "group of aligned sovereign nations" rather than a unified political or economic entity. It explicitly calls for "cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations." It claims that the EU and other "transnational bodies" are responsible for a "stark prospect of civilizational erasure." It attacks the EU’s regulatory framework, calling it "economic suicide" and "stifling regulation". Suggesting that the U.S. will prioritize trade and technology sharing with "aligned countries" that reject these EU standards, creating economic incentives for member states to break away from EU-wide rules. It emphasizes building up "the healthy nations of central, eastern, and southern Europe"—specifically those that "want to restore their former greatness"
- jjhvbvcvjvvgh 9mo ago[flagged]
- impossiblefork 9mo agoSupposing that it's done, one of the things I wander about is whether the EU and the Danes would understand that it's war and act accordingly-- i.e. would the ships stop, would the transatlantic flights stop, would US firms in Europe get told that they're now independent EU subsidiaries unconnected with their parent companies, would Americans in the EU be interned, etc.-- i.e would people react in the normal way that one does when one is at war. Obviously they'd have to, but I'm curious about whether they'd do it on the first day, or whether they'd sort of wonder around half-understanding "is this war?" I've gotten an impression from the Danes through this whole affair that they're not getting it and I wonder how little people understand in general, whether war is so foreign to them that they can't react appropriately.
- rwmj 9mo agoImportant note that Greenland is not in the EU (although Denmark is), so likely the EU would at first think this is not their concern. (I think this would be a wrong thing to think, but that's how it would be diffused at first.)
- impossiblefork 9mo agoActually, no. There's also NATO, but I guess 42.7 is stronger than article 5.
- hdgvhicv 9mo agoSo when Denmark invokes article 5, nato members like the US will declare war on the US?
- impossiblefork 9mo agoThat sounds very silly. Obviously the US breaking its treaty obligations doesn't mean that everybody else will.
- dataflow 9mo agoArticle 5 does not, contrary to popular belief, require military response. Go read the wording. It basically requires members to do exactly what they would be already required to do: whatever they want.
- mkbkn 9mo agoDoes Greenland have vast reserves of oil?
- exe34 9mo agorare earth mineral deposits
- BSDobelix 9mo agoLots of Minerals and Gold, Trump loves gold like A LOT!
- embedding-shape 9mo agoIt's a point for defense against Russia, I think is the main argument (besides the rare metal one). Take a look at a map of the world from the point of view of North Pole, and you'll understand why warmongers think it's an important point to hold: https://i.imgur.com/LE8DKGR.png https://i.imgur.com/LE8DKGR.png
- fjfaase 9mo agoThis argument has been rebuked over and over again. Denmark and the USA already have an agreement allowing the USA to establish military bases on Greenland [1]. There used to be a lot of USA military bases on Greenland and currently there is but one: Pituffik Space Base. [1] https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/06/12/denmark-approves-military-agreement-with-us-granting-american-bases-and-jurisdiction/ https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/06/12/denmark-approves-militar...
- deleted 9mo ago[deleted]
- tordrt 9mo agoThe US are already free to have bases on Greenland. In fact the US has closed dozens of bases on Greenland since the 40s.
- deleted 9mo ago[deleted]
- ExoticPearTree 9mo agoThe US did appoint a representative for Greenland a few weeks ago. It is not inconceiveable that at some point in the future they will let Denmark know that Greeland is a US territory and that’s that. And realistically, if this happens, in the next 3 years there is nothing anyone can do anything about it. We live in interesting times.
- hdgvhicv 9mo agoPost January it could be yet another impeachment, this time it might stick, especially if the project 25 people think trumps causing more harm than Vance.
- Hikikomori 9mo agoOnly harm trumps causing is Epstein fallout, Venezuela is even part of project 2025.
- IAmGraydon 9mo agoThis is another lie - Venezuela is not mentioned at all in Project 2025. If you believe I'm wrong (and I'm not), please cite the chapter and page that the section on Venezuela is located in.
- Hikikomori 9mo ago"The five countries on which the next Administration should focus its attention and energy are China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and North Korea."
- anthk 9mo agoIt wont happen unless you want the US bases in Europe kicked out fast and every terror atempt done by the US answered by a massive company expulsion from Europe starting from Mastercard and Visa and everyone forced to migrate to local banks. If you want a 1929 on steroids, do that.
- hdgvhicv 9mo agoWill be interesting to see if Europe could actually replace things quickly Mobile phones (android could be forked I guess, Apple would be out). Payment processing - shouldn’t be a problem if the U.K. is on side, one industry which isn’t been completely bought by America I suspect China will jump at the chance to assist and Europe will be stupid enough to take it.
- morkalork 9mo agoAlright everyone, we're going back to Ericsson phones! Jokes aside, isn't pushing Europe into China's hands exactly what the USA doesn't want? Part of the motivation behind Venezuela was they were getting too cozy with China.
- jacquesm 9mo agoAre you seriously arguing for consistency and reason from the Trump administration?
- tordrt 9mo agoHow is it stupid for Europe to accept assistance from China if the US starts a war with Europe?
- hdgvhicv 9mo agoLocking in to a China solution rather than standing alone. Just changes one master for another
- 9mo ago
- mindcrash 9mo agoWhich would become a very interesting situation from a geopolitical POV. Because Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, i.e. a NATO country. Which means Denmark could declare war AND invoke NATO Article 5 against the United States: "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security." https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resources/official-texts/1949/04/04/the-north-atlantic-treaty https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resource... Which means not only Denmark, but also Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom will immediately be in a state of war with a founding member of NATO - namely the United States. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_NATO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_NATO)
- NedF 9mo ago[dead]
- piva00 9mo ago> Katie Miller, the former administration official-turned-podcaster and wife of deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, posted an image on her X account on Saturday showing a map of Greenland colored by the American flag with a one-word caption: “SOON.” [0] Great, the USA collectively decided to elect not only stupid arrogants, it selected the violent ones. What's the goalpost now to call this administration fascist? [0] https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/03/trump-venezela-mexico-00710063 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/03/trump-venezela-mexi...
- tsoukase 9mo agoTrue exaggeration. The US had the chance to take Norway before they become millionaires from fishermen. Greenland is a possible target but in the (very) far future. Venezuela is the current easy target which will suffer immensely from the Oil-curse syndrome.
- watwut 9mo agoOf course flagged.
- lostmsu 9mo agoBecause it is baseless fearmongering. US is not going to invade Greenland or Canada. For these two the ambition is clearly in diplomacy/marketing only.
- tordrt 9mo agoIt can happen in multiple ways, doesn't need to be an invasion. I also think there is no way this is actually going to happen, but its obviously big news in itself that Trump and people in his circles are not willing to rule it out and are actively hinting at it. Its kind of ridiculous that we’re all just supposed to make our own interpretations when the president is just talking shit again or being serious.
- lostmsu 9mo agoFor all we know this was always discussed in certain circles. Trump could just be the first one to talk about it publicly.
- tordrt 9mo agoIt's not discussing wanting Greenland that is wrong, its threatening an ally about it through media instead of going about it in a diplomatic and friendly way. The motives also don't seem rational at all, but more about boosting Trumps ego and legacy. Trump obviously have an imperialism itch he is trying to scratch. This is incredibly damaging for the USs reputation and alliance with the rest of the western world. A lot of European leaders are now one after one posting on X that Greenland belongs to Denmark. Not excluding taking Greenland using military force would never have happened without Trump as president.
- giacomoforte 9mo agoI love how this is a community that talks about the singularity and transhumanism and all that sci-magick-fi nonsense as if it was going to happen next year, but a real geopolitical threat the likes of which have happened countless times in the last 500 years is considered impossible...
- wltr 9mo agoFlagged? As in flagged we’re the US company, obviously Republican, obviously trump supporting? Or just ‘meh, sorry, more comments then the likes, cannot do anything’?
- jacquesm 9mo agoYou won't be reading about the end of the world on HN either, it will be flagged as off topic. HN is a lot of good things but there are also some very annoying sharp edges and abuse of flagging privileges is definitely one of those. But you take the good with the bad.
- wltr 9mo agoI do agree, thanks for formulating this. A brief thought visited me, isn’t that how propaganda works? Like, you’re getting mostly correct info, with some things censored, others saturated.
- jacquesm 9mo agoYes, that is part of it. And part of it is 'useful idiots' doing what the propagandists would do as well. On HN you will find people from a lot of different countries with a lot of different viewpoints. The main reason politics (and religion) are mostly taboo on here is because those subjects tend to polarize and turn the place into yet another shithole. So I can see why there is a strong push to keep those off the site. But at the same time I'm realistic enough to know that everything has a political angle and that you can not solve a problem like this by denying its existence. That just makes it a bigger problem. The mods here have an un-enviable job, they walk a very fine line with an extremely smart audience, and they are doing an absolutely amazing job of it given that most people would fail in that position in about 30 seconds flat. It is as even handed as you could possibly make it. But flagging is not a moderator action, it is the users and I've seen them be abused more than once, either because of personal dislikes or because of brigading. Even so, you'd be hard pressed to find a place with better discourse on a large variety of subjects.
- Simulacra 9mo agoI don't see this is happening, it's a tremendous death from removing a dictator who's authority was legitimate, to invading Greenland. I just don't see that and I think this is more click bait and rage bait. I don't agree with how it was done, but I'm glad to see maduro gone, but it's opened a very, very, very dangerous door.....
- Jordan-117 9mo ago*illegitimate
- wozer 9mo agoThe Danish government takes the threat seriously: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g0zg974v1o https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g0zg974v1o
- jacquesm 9mo agoSo does the rest of Europe on a high structural level. Individually things are more complex.
- iainmerrick 9mo agoRight. Anyone who thinks this is not a real threat is sadly deluded. However, if you think through the scenarios, the US is in a very strong military position and there's not much Denmark or the EU as a whole would be able to do about it. They could threaten a direct military response, on the basis of making the annexation more trouble than it's worth, but then you're just playing chicken with a significantly crazier enemy. Most likely the EU would try to calm the waters, and offer a compromise peace / surrender plan along the lines of the one the US has offered Russia in Ukraine. The biggest obstacle ought to be political opposition and public protests within the US itself, but right now the US government is in a position to just move fast and make things happen, what with the weak Congress and compliant Supreme Court. I hope and believe it'll become much less likely after the midterms, with a Democrat-led Congress motivated to push back against the executive's excesses.
- consumer451 9mo agoPOTUS's deputy chief of staff, 21hrs ago: > SOON https://x.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266#m https://x.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266#m https://xcancel.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266#m https://xcancel.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266#m
- ffsm8 9mo agoOof, that makes the fact people flagged this seriously fucked up...
- consumer451 9mo agoI actually made an error and cannot edit it. I should have written "previous deputy press secretary."
- chrisjj 9mo agoConsider that flagging may be for it being off-topic for HN.
- twixfel 9mo agoNothing off topic about it.
- pera 9mo agoCNN interviewed Stephen Miller last night: Stephen Miller Asserts U.S. Has Right to Take Greenland https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46509694 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46509694 Here is a clip: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tidejP41CBk https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tidejP41CBk
- deepfriedchokes 9mo agoThe wife of a presidential aide saying something is not worthy news.
- tordrt 9mo agoWell its not just her, its also the president. Maybe read the article next time.
- sjushsh 9mo ago[flagged]
- umren 9mo agoEven if they take it, what would EU do? Clearly attack on Venezuela is against international law, but the EU/UK is mostly silent about it so is there a thing like international law that really exists? or you only apply it when it benefits you?
- erxam 9mo ago[flagged]