Trump declares ‘I don’t need international law’ as fears of Greenland takeover grow | World | News
President Donald Trump said he did not need international law following the backlash over recent military actions in South America and threats against NATO allies. Mr Trump declared he relied on his “own morality” to guide his decisions, saying he “didn’t want to hurt people” days after socialist leader Nicolás Maduro was captured in a bold military offensive.
The US President launched into a series of fiery outbursts after US Special Forces captured Maduro in the middle of the night. Threats have been made against Cuba, Colombia, and Iran, and members of the Trump administration have even threatened to use military force to take Greenland, territory of a NATO member country. In an interview with the New York Times, Trump was asked if there were any limits to his power around the world. He replied: “Yes, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind.”
He said he believes his administration should comply with such laws, but he will decide when they should be fully implemented in the country he leads. This comes after the US has repeatedly threatened to seize Greenland, the semi-autonomous region that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO state.
Mr. Trump and his allies have repeatedly said using military force to seize control of the island will not be off the table. When asked in the interview whether capturing Greenland was more important than keeping NATO together, the US President did not answer directly, instead saying “it could be a choice.”
While Trump said “We need Greenland” earlier this week, his administration stated that it could use military force to achieve this goal, with comments that sent shock waves through NATO.
They forced leading members of the alliance, including the United Kingdom, to issue a statement urging countries to respect member states’ territorial sovereignty. Members of the Trump administration have since confirmed that an “invasion” is not planned, but that the US would prefer to purchase the region.
The dramatic comments came just days after Mr. Trump ordered the daring Special Forces operation in which Maduro was removed from power in Caracas and flown to the United States to face criminal charges. Saturday’s blitzkrieg stunned the international community and marked a dramatic increase in America’s willingness to use military force around the world.
Since the Venezuela operation, Mr. Trump has stepped up threatening rhetoric against many countries, which critics warn is a dangerous new approach to foreign policy. During the New York Times interview, the President reportedly received a phone call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who expressed fears that his country might be next in line for military action.
Before the meeting, Mr Petro told the American newspaper: “We are in danger. Because the threat is real. Trump did this.” The president also maintained intense pressure on communist-ruled Cuba and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mr. Trump reportedly displayed a model of the B-2 stealth bomber used to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities prominently on his Oval Office desk during the interview. Asked whether the Venezuela raid set a dangerous precedent that China would use to justify taking Taiwan or defend Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Trump reportedly rejected the comparison.
He insisted that Venezuela poses a “real threat” to America, claiming Maduro is allowing criminals and gang members to cross the border into the United States. Before the US operation in Caracas, Maduro and his administration had repeatedly rejected the allegations made against them by the US.
