Trump calls to boost defence spending to $1.5trn amid threats to Greenland
Donald Trump called to raise US defence spending to $1.5trn on Wednesday amid a growing spat with NATO allies over the future of Greenland.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the president said he would ask Congress for an extra $500bn to bring the Pentagon’s budget to a record high.
He said the money would fund his “Dream Military”, without much explanation.
The post comes after a flurry of activity deposing Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and threatening military intervention to take Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
James Reynolds8 January 2026 10:15
The US won’t station troops in Venezuela, officials insist after Trump’s warning
National security leaders told senators on Wednesday that the US does not plan to station troops in Venezuela, according to Politico.
Lawmakers told the outlet that Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio still maintained that the US military would stay in the area for the foreseeable future.
Donald Trump told NBC News earlier this week that he was prepared to send more troops in if interim president Delcy Rodriguez stops cooperating.
James Reynolds8 January 2026 09:50
Role of Venezuelan government still unclear as US eyes oil profits
Delcy Rodriguez’s role as interim president of Venezuela remains unclear with Donald Trump insisting the US will control oil revenues for the foreseeable future.
The US president told the New York Times that he was getting on well with Nicolas Maduro’s replacement, who has taken a more conciliatory tone towards the US since being sworn into office on Monday.
In an interview with the NYT published on Thursday, the US president made no commitments about when elections would be held in Venezuela, leaving the country’s democracy in question.
James Reynolds8 January 2026 09:40
Plan to manage Venezuelan oil slammed by Dem senator
The Trump administration is facing intense opposition to the announced plan to control Venezuela’s oil sales “indefinitely”.
The US Department of Energy revealed on Wednesday a scheme to keep all proceeds from oil sales in US-controlled accounts before the US government decides how they are used “for the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people”.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the plan “insane”.
“They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country,” he told reporters.
“The scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning.”
Senator Chris Murphy, pictured in December (AFP/Getty)
James Reynolds8 January 2026 09:30
Trump threatens to control Venezuelan oil for years
Donald Trump has suggested US involvement in Venezuela could last for years as they “rebuild” the country with seized oil money.
The US president was asked by the New York Times whether he foresaw the US overseeing Venezuela for three months, six months, a year or longer.
“I would say much longer,” he said, in an interview published early on Thursday. “Only time will tell,” he added.
Trump insisted that Venezuela would be rebuild “in a very profitable way”, adding: “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil. We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”
He said that the US was “getting along very well” with interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who replaced ousted leader Nicolas Maduro on Monday.
Trump is positioning the US to stay in Venezuela for some time (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
James Reynolds8 January 2026 09:24
Trump says US oversight of Venezuela could last years
President Donald Trump has said that “only time will tell” how long the U.S. will maintain oversight of Venezuela.
When asked by the New York Times if it would be three months, six months, a year, or longer, Trump said: “I would say much longer.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 January 2026 08:00
Watch: British military troops return to RAF base after helping U.S. seize oil tankerMilitary troops return to RAF base as MoD admits involvement in Russian tanker raid
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 January 2026 07:59
Trump demands massive increase to defense spending budget
President Trump wants to increase next year’s military budget to $1.5 trillion, in what would be the largest jump ever in defense spending, up from this year’s $901 billion allocation.
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, the president said the windfall would help bolster U.S. forces during these “very troubled and dangerous times.” In recent days, the White House has pursued military action in Venezuela and across the Caribbean, and has threatened Greenland, Colombia and Mexico.
“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” the president wrote in his post.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 January 2026 07:47
Venezuela says 100 killed in U.S. attack
Venezuela’s interior minister Diosdado Cabello has claimed that at least 100 people died in the U.S. attack over the weekend to seize sitting president Nicolas Maduro.
Caracas had not previously released a death toll, but the army later published a list naming 23 soldiers killed.
Venezuelan officials said a significant portion of Maduro’s security detail was killed “in cold blood,” while Cuba reported that 32 of its military and intelligence personnel in Venezuela were killed.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 January 2026 07:20
Watch: US vows to control Venezuela’s oil ‘indefinitely’US vows to control Venezuela’s oil ‘indefinitely’
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar8 January 2026 07:00