Trump Admin Makes Hawkish Remarks on Greenland and Cuba

In the wake of US strikes on Venezuela, the Trump administration has made aggressive remarks toward Greenland and Cuba, renewing anxieties among leaders in the territories.

The Details: On Sunday, President Donald Trump renewed his calls for an American takeover of Greenland - a Danish territory - for the sake of US security. Also, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Cuba "is in a lot of trouble." Greenland has mineral wealth and Trump views it as a strategic location for defense purposes. Cuba is considered an important ally and trade partner for Venezuela. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long criticized the country as a dictatorship that represses its people.

Key Quotes: "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense." Trump told The Atlantic (Left bias). Danish Prime Minister Mete Frederiksen wrote on Facebook, "It makes absolutely no sense to take about the U.S. needing to take over Greenland. The U.S. has not right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish kingdom." In regard to Cuba, Rubio said, "It was Cubans that guarded {Venezuelan President Nicolas} Maduro. He was not guarded by Venezuelan bodyguards. He had Cuban bodyguards."

For Context: The comments come a day after the capture of Maduro and underscore the Trump administration's apparent desire to take a more expansive role in the Western Hemisphere.

How The Media Covered It: Trump's and Rubio's comments were not covered much by sources on the right, though The Washington Times (Lean Right) did note that the comments rattled several countries around the globe and spurred the question of which country might face US action next. The New York Times (Lean Left) reported that Trump feels emboldened after the capture of Maduro and that Trump also threatened Colombia. The BBC (Center) reported that the situation has reignited fears that the US might forcefully annex Greenland, which Trump has refused to rule out previously.

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