Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a dramatic raid, attention is turning to which countries may be next in the sights of the Trump administration, particularly in light of his renewed emphasis on the United States' role in the Western Hemisphere. Trump, in describing the operation, invoked the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which asserted U.S. dominance in the Americas, rebranding it the "Donroe Doctrine."

The administration has recently issued warnings and expressed interest in several nations, raising concerns about potential future interventions. Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has emerged as a potential target of U.S. interest. Trump stated the U.S. needs Greenland "from the standpoint of national security," citing the presence of "Russian and Chinese ships all over the place."

Greenland's strategic location in the Arctic, approximately 2,000 miles northeast of the U.S., and its rich deposits of rare earth minerals are key factors driving U.S. interest. These minerals are essential for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, and military equipment. Currently, China dominates the global production of rare earth minerals, a fact that has spurred concerns in Washington about U.S. economic and military competitiveness. The Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. military installation, is already located on Greenland.

The Monroe Doctrine, initially intended to prevent European powers from further colonizing or interfering in the affairs of the newly independent Latin American nations, has been interpreted and applied differently throughout U.S. history. Some view it as a legitimate assertion of U.S. security interests, while others criticize it as a justification for interventionism and the imposition of U.S. will on sovereign nations. The invocation of the "Donroe Doctrine" has sparked debate about the potential implications for U.S. foreign policy and its relationship with countries in the Americas and beyond.