Muhammet İkbal Arslan
20 January 2026•Update: 20 January 2026
GENEVA
A UN rapporteur said recent US actions toward Venezuela and threats involving Greenland are part of a long-standing pattern of American interventionism rather than isolated developments.
George Katrougalos, the UN rapporteur on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, said Washington’s conduct reflects what he described as a broader history of interference abroad.
"It's not an isolated event. What's happened in Venezuela or the new threats about Greenland -- the United States have attacked, bombarded several countries already. So there is a pattern of lawlessness," Katrougalos told Anadolu.
He described the US as historically interventionist and said President Donald Trump has intensified this approach by acting without legal or moral justification.
"The United States had always been a very much interfering country. There is a long history of American interventionism. The new thing about President Trump is that it is happening without any kind of pretext, any reference to international legality, the respect of human rights, or the promotion of democracy," he said.
Katrougalos said Trump made clear that developments in Venezuela were driven by access to natural resources, while dismissing claims that Greenland poses a genuine security concern.
Turning to Europe, Katrougalos said a major concern is what he described as the lack of resistance from European governments.
"I think a major problem is the subservience of Europe to the United States' bullying. We have seen that the European Union has accepted 15% tariffs. We have seen that they have not reacted to what’s happened in Venezuela," he said.
He added that although European leaders are now discussing a response to Greenland-related threats, he doubts they will be able to mount a strong pushback.
"I am very much afraid that they are not going to have a majority for a real pushback against the Greenland threat," he said.
Katrougalos described Trump’s approach to international relations as purely transactional.
"It's just his conscience that is guiding him. His logic is transactional. He thinks that by pushing, by having a hard line in negotiations, he can take what he wants," he said.
He contrasted Europe’s response with China’s, arguing that the European Union has comparable economic power but has chosen not to use it.
"The trend of the European Union is not to react in the same way as China reacted. The sizes are very comparable. Europe has the economic clout to push back," he said.
Katrougalos warned that unless this changes, similar patterns will continue.
While noting that countries such as Brazil and Canada have attempted to respond -- with Canada facing particular constraints due to its trade dependence on the US -- Katrougalos said accountability must ultimately be pursued through the UN.
"The real focus of reaction must be the United Nations. Of course, the Security Council cannot take a decision since the United States will veto it, but the United Nations is what we have," he said.
Katrougalos stressed the importance of action through the UN General Assembly and sustained international pressure.
"Governments must react in order to defend not just their national interests and their peoples, but also the future of international relations," he said.
