Trump declares 'I don't need international law' as fears of Greenland takeover grow

Donald Trump said he doesn't need international law (Image: Getty Images)

President Donald Trump has said he doesn't need international law after backlash over recent military actions in South America and threats against NATO allies. Mr Trump declared that he relied on his "own morality" to guide his decisions, saying he was "not looking to hurt people" days after a daring military strike captured socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro.

The United States President has engaged in a series of escalating fiery outbursts after US Special Forces captured Maduro in the dead of night. Threats have been made against Cuba, Colombia and Iran, and in a stark escalation, members of the Trump administration have even threatened to use military force to take Greenland, the territory of a NATO member.

Mr Trump was asked in an interview with the New York Times if he felt he had any limits on his world-spanning power. He replied: "Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind."

He stated that he believed his administration did need to abide by such laws, but said he would decide when they needed to be fully applied to the country he leads. It comes after the United States made repeated threats to seize the semi-autonomous territory, Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO state.

Mr Trump and his allies have repeatedly stated that the use of military force to take control of the island is not off the table. When asked in the interview if he felt obtaining Greenland was more important than keeping NATO together, the US President did not answer directly, instead saying "it may be a choice".

Mr Trump reportedly suggested the alliance was "effectively useless" without the USA, which is the largest constituent military in NATO. Earlier this week Mr Trump said "we need Greenland" as his administration stated they could use military force to achieve that goal, in comments that sent shockwaves through NATO.

They forced leading members of the alliance, including the UK, to issue a statement urging countries to respect the territorial sovereignty of member states. Members of the Trump administration have since confirmed that an "invasion" is not planned, but that the USA would rather purchase the territory.

The dramatic comments came just days after Mr Trump ordered the audacious Special Forces operation that saw Maduro snatched from power in Caracas and flown to the United States to face criminal charges. The lightning raid on Saturday stunned the international community and marked a dramatic escalation in American willingness to use military force around the world.

Since the Venezuela operation, Mr Trump has ramped up threatening rhetoric against multiple nations in what critics warn is a dangerous new approach to foreign policy. During the New York Times interview, the President reportedly took a phone call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who expressed fears his country could be next in line for military action.

Before the call, Mr Petro told the American newspaper: "Well, we are in danger. Because the threat is real. It was made by Trump." The President has also maintained extensive pressure on Communist-run Cuba and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mr Trump reportedly had a model of the B-2 stealth bombers used to strike Iran's nuclear facilities prominently displayed on his Oval Office desk during the interview. When challenged about whether the Venezuela raid set a dangerous precedent that could be exploited by China to justify taking Taiwan, or by Russia to defend its invasion of Ukraine, Mr Trump reportedly dismissed the comparison.

He insisted Venezuela posed a "real threat" to America, claiming Maduro had allowed criminals and gang members to pour across the border into the United States.