New target: Cuba, Greenland, Colombia

US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that the United States needs Greenland for its national security, doubling down on his longstated ambition to bring the vast Arctic island under American control.

- Agencies

The remarks came barely a day after a dramatic US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro and his wife during an overnight raid in Caracas.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump argued that Greenland was critical to US defence interests because of what he described as the growing presence of Russia and China in the Arctic region. "We need Greenland. It's so strategic right now," Trump said, claiming the island was surrounded by Russian and Chinese vessels.

He went on to assert that Denmark, which controls Greenland as a self-governing territory, was incapable of ensuring its security. "Denmark is not going to be able to do it," he said, adding that Europe supported Washington's position.

ENOUGH, SAYS GREENLAND: