Trump’s rally in Perry, Georgia was punctuated by a boast that the United States had secured Greenland and Venezuela—an assertion that has no legal foundation. The statement came just weeks after Washington and Denmark signed a memorandum of understanding on 22 October to expand maritime industrial cooperation, a document that expressly excludes Greenland and the Faroe Islands and contains no transfer of sovereignty.
The MoU, described as a political intention rather than a treaty, clarifies that it does not authorize procurement or transfer of funds between the parties. Each nation will shoulder its own costs, and the agreement contains no clauses that would grant the U.S. ownership of Greenland.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, tweeted that the agreement opens opportunities for Danish companies and can create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. The statement emphasized a commercial focus on education, technology, and defense cooperation, rather than any territorial claim.
Trump had earlier posted on Truth Social that large‑scale oil, gas and mineral exploration was preparing to begin in Greenland, citing the territory’s strategic location. He framed the move as a win for U.S. security, but no such exploration has been authorized under the current MoU.
The claim about Venezuela follows a January operation that saw former leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores captured by U.S. forces, flown to New York, and charged with criminal offenses. The operation drew scrutiny from international legal scholars over potential violations of Venezuelan sovereignty.
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez addressed the U.N. General Assembly in September, signalling a diplomatic reset and a desire to rebuild ties with Washington. The U.S. has no legal basis to claim possession of Venezuela, and the Maduro capture remains a contested event.
As the U.S. and Denmark continue to cooperate on maritime matters, the political rhetoric from the rally shows no substantive shift in sovereignty. Denmark maintains that Greenland remains under its jurisdiction, and the MoU’s exclusions keep the U.S. from asserting control.