AC-130J Ghostrider gunships flying to Europe Photo: report from defense news website The War Zone

Following the US' sudden raid on Venezuela, which triggered concerns from many countries, some defense-focused media reported that there has been a sudden surge of US aircraft to Europe, prompting speculation of future special operations in the region. The deployment comes amid the US' Venezuela takeover fueling fresh worry about a US taking over Greenland. 

The sudden increase of US aircraft to Europe included C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets, possibly packed with helicopters, emanating from the home of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, and a shadowy special operations turboprop aircraft, defense news website The War Zone (TWZ) reported on Monday. 

The deployments of these aircraft increasingly seem like they are in support of a future operation to board the Russian-flagged Crude Oil Tanker Marinera, which until recently has been known as the Bella-1, and has been pursued by the US Coast Guard since last month, the TWZ said. 

Citing flight tacking data, the UK Defence Journal said there was an increase in US Air Force strategic airlift activity, including multiple C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft arriving at RAF Fairford, alongside the arrival of two AC-130 gunships at RAF Mildenhall.

Approximately 10 C-17 movements have been observed over a short period, with most flights originating from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, per the journal. 

Recent US military air movements into the UK indicate a redeployment of American special forces into Europe, following a period of heightened operational activity linked to events in Venezuela, UK Defence Journal understands.

Though the reason for such sudden increase of US aircraft in the region remains unknown, the increase of aircraft coincided with the fresh concerns over the US President Donald Trump's claims on Greenland, which drew attention and speculation in Europe from specialists to netizens. 

"Lots of US Spec Ops aircraft have been transiting the UK in recent days, en route to Europe, including reports of aircraft originating from the 160th Spec Ops Air Regiment aka 'Nightstalkers' who supported the raid on Maduro in Venezuela…Another possible action in Europe?" a former British Army officer Ed McGuinness said in a X post on Tuesday. 

Another netizen @Fahadnaimb who claims to be licensed aircraft maintenance engineer said in a X post on Monday that "US special ops air ramping hard through Europe to Gulf early 2026 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) elements parked at RAF Fairford UK, two AC-130J gunships touched down nearby, C-17s flowing Ramstein Germany straight to Al Udeid Qatar and Saudi bases. Classic staging play. So, quiet but loud message. Post-Venezuela shift, Iran/Houthi prep, or just a routine flex? What's your take on the timing?"

A London-based commentator @Microinteracti1 said in a X post on Monday that the US special forces movements through Britain "hint at a fast pivot back into Europe after Venezuela." 

"The main phase of the Venezuela operation appears to be over, but the operational details remain deliberately foggy: which units, where in Europe, and what comes next," he said. 

Some netizens also speculated that whether the US air movement to Europe could target the Middle East. 

"Middle East strike upcoming?" netizen @RandomHeroWX said in a X post on Sunday in commenting on the transatlantic flights from the US to various air bases across Europe.

In the latest interview with CNN, Stephen Miller, a top aide to Trump, asserted on Monday that Greenland rightfully belonged to the US and that the Trump administration could seize the Greenland territory if it wanted.

"Nobody's going to fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland," Miller told Jake Tapper, the CNN host, after being asked repeatedly whether he would rule out using military force, the New York Times (NYT) reported.  

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday an American takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of the NATO military alliance, the AP reported. 

Germany also indicated Monday that European allies would be prepared to step in, NBC News said. 

"Since Denmark is a member of NATO, Greenland will, in principle, also be subject to NATO defense," Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters in Lithuania, per NBC News. 

A Chinese expert said Europe's current mindset is complex and conflicted. 

Europe is highly nervous at present and Denmark's prime minister has issued strong statement, warning that any such takeover would mean the collapse of the entire NATO system, meanwhile, as the leading power within NATO, the US already enjoys significant—indeed, largely dominant—room for influence over Greenland, Jiang Feng, a researcher at Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Regional Studies Association, told the Global Times. 

Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen said on Monday that Denmark was a member of NATO and that a defense agreement with the US already gave Washington "wide access to Greenland," the NYT said. 

"This in itself reveals that Europe still harbors a certain degree of expectation, or even illusion, regarding the US," Jiang said, noting that when the US openly violates international law by using force against another country and illegally seizing its president and taking him to the US, some European countries have failed to take a clear and firm stance in opposition. 

This ambiguity reflects not only an illusion about American hegemony, but also a form of appeasement that in effect encourages the current expansionist and aggressive behavior of the US, Jiang added. 

Ultimately, this shows that Europe is now facing the consequences of its own ambiguous stance regarding international rules and international law, Jiang added. 

Rising concerns across Europe have also been palpable in some European media. 

"US-Venezuela: Is Greenland next and could the EU protect it?" German media Deutsche Welle said in a headline of a story on Monday. 

This is not the first time Trump has floated the idea of annexing Greenland. He's offered to buy it more than once and has not ruled out military force either, DW said. But the renewed rhetoric comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension, raising questions about how Europe would respond if words turned into action, according to the German media. 

Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain, and Denmark said in a joint statement on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Euro News also said on Monday that Washington's unprecedented operation in Venezuela resulting in the capture of Nicolas Maduro has reignited fears for Greenland, which Trump has said he wants to annex, given its strategic location in the Arctic.