Hours after the US President Donald Trump announced that 30-50 million barrels of oil transferred by the interim Venezuelan government will be sold by the US at market rates, his renewed threat to annexe Greenland has riled NATO and Western nations, with some of the leading powers such as Germany, France, UK warning him against the move.

Venezuela's interim government will transfer between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil which will be sold at market rates, Trump announced within days of the dramatic arrest and extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3 in a long-haul military operation in Caracas. The capture followed a series of strikes on boats allegedly smuggling drugs to America over weeks and a tightening siege involving aircraft carriers, air-to-air refuelling jets, troop carriers and warplanes in the Caribbean Sea.

"I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 million Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump said the proceeds would benefit both Venezuelan and American citizens.

"This oil will be sold at its market price, and the money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States," Trump added.

On Wednesday, France, Germany and NATO allies warned Trump against any military move on Greenland, saying they will respond appropriately in the event of any US military intervention to acquire Greenland. Canada, which Trump had been touting to annex as the 51st state of the United States of America after his inauguration last year, also threw its weight behind Greenland by announcing it will open its embassy in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.

President Trump said he has been considering "a range of options," including potential military involvement. Trump has emphasised that acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, remains a "national security priority."

A joint statement was issued by President Macron of France, Chancellor Merz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Tusk of Poland, Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain, Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom, and Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark.

"Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe, and it is critical for international and transatlantic security," the statement read.

The leaders added, "NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European Allies are stepping up. We and many other Allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries. The Kingdom of Denmark- including Greenland -is part of NATO."

They emphasised, "Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them."

The statement also noted that the United States is a crucial partner in this effort, both as a NATO ally and through the 1951 defence agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States. Greenland belongs to its people, and "it is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," it said.