The world woke to reports of dramatic and controversial actions by the United States that have unsettled allies and drawn intense scrutiny. In early January, U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, in an overnight military operation that brought him to New York to face charges—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations Security Council and other global leaders as a dangerous precedent. At the same time, President Donald Trump reignited discussion about acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, with rhetoric that has alarmed European partners and triggered firm rejection from both Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
The United States has sparked global controversy with actions that have unsettled allies, including the capture of Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro and renewed rhetoric about acquiring Greenland. These moves have drawn sharp criticism from the UN and European partners, who warn they undermine diplomatic norms and strain alliances. Supporters see a show of U.S. strength, while critics argue it marks a break from postwar international practice. As governments reassess their positions, uncertainty now shapes global calculations, with long-standing diplomatic guardrails being tested in real time.
