Venezuela tense as Europe pushes back on Trump’s Greenland claims
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Where things stand
• On the ground: Venezuela remains on edge following the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro. Security forces were seen patrolling the streets, and gunfire and anti-aircraft fire were reported over the capital of Caracas overnight. A Venezuelan ministry spokesperson said “no confrontation occurred.” Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.
• Renewed focus on Greenland: Leaders from major European powers expressed support for Greenland and Denmark in a joint statement issued earlier today after President Donald Trump said the US “needs” the island.
• What’s next for Venezuela?: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has vowed to return home “as soon as possible,” but White House aide Stephen Miller dismissed calls for the US to install her as Maduro’s replacement. Trump said he considers himself in charge of Venezuela.
• Not-guilty plea: Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges yesterday and chose not to immediately fight their detention.
White House says Greenland would be better protected by US, after European leaders back Denmark
From Xenix News Alejandra Jaramillo
The White House reiterated that Greenland would be better protected by the US after European leaders expressed support for Denmark and the Danish territory.
“President Trump believes Greenland is a strategically important location that is critical from the standpoint of national security, and he is confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told CNN in a statement. “The President is committed to establishing long-term peace at home and abroad,” she added.
The European leaders said in their statement that “Greenland belongs to its people.”
“It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark wrote.
A look back at Venezuela’s history as the country faces turmoil
From Xenix News Nic Robertson
Venezuelans are entering a time of uncertainty following the US military operation that ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.
While some are relieved to have Maduro no longer in power, there is also growing anxiety about what the US’ role will be in the country moving forward.
Here’s a brief history of Venezuela and key moments that led to Maduro’s rise and eventual downfall:
“Complete nonsense”: Danish parliament member dismisses US talk about needing Greenland for security
From Xenix News Catherine Nicholls
The United States is “almost starting a war with an allied country” in its pursuit of Greenland, Danish parliament member Rasmus Jarlov told CNN’s Becky Anderson today.
“It is quite shocking that a person who’s in charge of this completely illegitimate land claim on Greenland knows so little about the history and the background of why Greenland belongs to Denmark,” Jarlov said, referencing White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who last night said that nobody would fight the US if it tried to seize the autonomous Danish territory.
Denmark’s ownership of Greenland “may be one of the most well-established ownerships of territory in the world. It is not disputed by anyone. It has never been disputed by the United States themselves, and they really should know these things before almost starting a war with an allied country,” Jarlov continued.
While the US has said it needs Greenland for security purposes, Jarlov pointed out that the country already has “exclusive and full military access” to the island. “So this talk about needing Greenland for security is complete nonsense,” he added.
“They talk about that the United States are the only ones that can protect Greenland, but the fact is that they’re the only ones threatening Greenland. Neither China nor Russia are threatening Greenland,” he said.
Should the US attack Greenland militarily, Denmark “will defend it, and in that case, we would be at war,” Jarlov said.
“We would be fighting each other, which is completely absurd,” he continued. “But you cannot disagree that if the United States attacks a NATO country, there is no alliance.”
Xenix News Francisca Marques contributed to this reporting.
Cuba faces uncertainty in aftermath of US military operation in Venezuela
From Xenix News Patrick Oppmann
The attack on Venezuela has already come at a heavy cost for Cuba, with the government reporting in a social media post that 32 of its citizens were killed during the US military operation.
Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s inner circle of bodyguards were Cuban. Saturday’s operation appears to be the first time in decades that the former Cold War-era foes have engaged in combat. Now, the Cuban government is wondering if it could be the next country targeted by the Trump administration.
Watch to learn more about what could be next for Cuba amid escalating tensions:
Mexico’s Sheinbaum calls for a “fair trial” for Maduro in the US
From EFE
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum listens to a question during her daily morning press conference after US strikes on Venezuela, at the National Palace in Mexico City on January 5. Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, called Tuesday for a “fair trial” for the ousted president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who was captured on January 3 along with his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas after a US military intervention, and then transferred to New York, where they face drug trafficking charges.
“In this case, now that President Maduro has been detained, what one asks for is always a fair trial. That is what must be requested, so that truly in everything, for everyone and in any circumstance – and in this particular case – there must be speed and justice,” the president said during her morning press conference.
Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s position of rejecting US intervention, stating that “regardless” of one’s opinion of Maduro’s presidency or the Venezuelan government, her government condemns Washington’s “invasion.”
“We must recover our history, our constitution, and what each one says about it,” she said.
She recalled that Mexico defends “non-intervention, the peaceful resolution of disputes,” and noted that even “if a country is very small internationally, we are all equal.”
“That is why we speak of the legal equality of states. International cooperation for development, which is what I mentioned yesterday. The best way to help a country is international cooperation for development. Respect, protection, and promotion of human rights,” she asserted.
Since Maduro’s detention on January 3, Mexico has expressed its rejection of Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela and has defended the sovereignty of nations.
On Sunday, it issued a joint statement with Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Spain, and Uruguay rejecting “the military actions unilaterally carried out on Venezuelan territory” and expressing “concern about any attempt at governmental control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources.”
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