US Officials Send Blunt Messages Over Venezuela and Greenland.
In a tense address, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the country's stance on taking control of Greenland. The comment came in the wake of the country seizing two oil tankers linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth echoed Rubio's sentiments over Venezuela, while offering little clarity on the nation's strategic intentions regarding Greenland.
Rubio stressed that US demands for the territory remain unchanged despite recent developments. The tension around Greenland has been escalating, with some analysts interpreting it as a means to test Russia's military capabilities and China's growing influence in the Arctic region.
Hegseth's stance, however, remains ambiguous. In contrast to his predecessor, James Mattis, Hegseth declined to explicitly state whether the US would support a Danish bid to regain control of Greenland from Denmark, which is currently negotiating with Washington for greater cooperation on security matters.
The seizure of two oil tankers has heightened tensions between Venezuela and Western nations. The oil tankers were carrying Iranian-made explosives that could potentially be used in attacks on ships or at sea installations. The move comes as Maduro's regime faces increasing pressure from the international community over human rights abuses and democratic backsliding.
In a tense address, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the country's stance on taking control of Greenland. The comment came in the wake of the country seizing two oil tankers linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth echoed Rubio's sentiments over Venezuela, while offering little clarity on the nation's strategic intentions regarding Greenland.
Rubio stressed that US demands for the territory remain unchanged despite recent developments. The tension around Greenland has been escalating, with some analysts interpreting it as a means to test Russia's military capabilities and China's growing influence in the Arctic region.
Hegseth's stance, however, remains ambiguous. In contrast to his predecessor, James Mattis, Hegseth declined to explicitly state whether the US would support a Danish bid to regain control of Greenland from Denmark, which is currently negotiating with Washington for greater cooperation on security matters.
The seizure of two oil tankers has heightened tensions between Venezuela and Western nations. The oil tankers were carrying Iranian-made explosives that could potentially be used in attacks on ships or at sea installations. The move comes as Maduro's regime faces increasing pressure from the international community over human rights abuses and democratic backsliding.