President Trump revived American imperialism from the second half of the 19th century. / Source: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain), photograph by The White HouseThe fresh year, alternatively of the expected thaw after hard 2025, brought another global tension. U.S. president Donald Trump, despite the fresh Year's want for peace in the world, has already intervened in Venezuela and has besides repeatedly threatened Denmark. Nor does it alleviate the already tense situation with unflattering comments on the legitimacy of the North Atlantic Alliance from an American perspective. another allies face a hard choice: to accept the dictatorship of the United States or to resist?
"NATO needs us much more than we request NATO," said the president of the United States in the context of the Arctic crisis on 11 January. However, members of the Pact may have felt insecure even before the situation with Greenland intensified. Donald Trump attacked the Alliance for most of his political activity. In any of his statements, he even questioned the legitimacy of protecting Europe from the Russian Federation. At the end of the year, the United States administration published a fresh national safety strategy. It assumes the division of the planet according to spheres of influence, as well as greater distrust of global organizations. It besides attacks European Union policy. Among another things, EU migration policy and European economical regulations were under fire. All of this seriously undermined the unity of the West.
Arctic disturbance
Greenland is simply a Danish autonomous subsidiary territory. It has long been a salt in the eye of American politicians. Since the Cold War, the U.S. government has given large importance to the island in a defensive context. The Arctic area for the United States attempted to get president Harry Truman, offering Denmark $100 million. At present, the full administration of the President-in-Office pays considerable attention to this territory. America's presence of its own troops is no longer enough, she's curious in the incarnation of autonomous territory to her borders. Additionally, there is the question of taking over the Greenlandic uncommon earth deposits and another natural materials. The melting glaciers partially facilitate access to valuable minerals. “We truly request a title to land, as they say in the real property world,” said the U.S. leader. 1 of Washington's main arguments is the insufficient power of Copenhagen to defend the island against Russia or China.
Politicians do not seem to care about global treaties. erstwhile the offer to acquisition the island did not produce results, at all conferences attended by the American administration real threats to attack and take over the island by force became. Marco Rubio, in a fiasco of talks with the Ministry of abroad Affairs of Denmark, stated that a military operation was possible. The Polish Press Agency reported that the Secretary of State, erstwhile asked about the hazard of NATO disintegration, did not supply a reassuring answer. “Every president always retains the option of utilizing force,” replied journalists. And although he emphasized the importance of diplomacy, this contrasts with his earlier statements, in which the desire for a peaceful solution prevailed. According to the fresh York Times, Rubio informed members of the American legislature that Trump preferred a financial solution alternatively of a military one.
Armed incursion into the territory of another NATO associate (who is Denmark) would constitute a complete denial of the fundamental principles that build the Alliance. "I think that American military commanders will beat this kind of action out of the head of the civilian administration. due to the fact that then we would talk about the end of NATO – as we know it today" - said 24 Dr Przemysław Kwiatkowski, specialist in global relations. The local government of Greenland is besides not considered by the Americans. The island authorities are clearly not curious in being annexed by the US. "If we are to choose between the US and Denmark, we like to be part of the Kingdom of Denmark," said Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen unequivocally after talking to Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen.
Some politicians effort to ease the situation. Part of Congress, including only a fewer Republicans, is trying to block aggressive politics. "Kyiv Post" reported that the Democratic organization presented in the Chamber a task aimed at the operation of the President's administration. The bill is to have the power to block any offensive action against an ally. However, Donald Trump seems to ignore the congressmen's opposition and continues his rhetoric towards Denmark and its dependent territories.
Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederiknielsen, declared that his country preferred further ties with Denmark to join the US. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), photograph by Christian UrsilvaUnification of the Old Continent
Europe appears to be mostly in agreement against American plans to take over the island. Denmark increased the presence of its troops and besides ordered military exercises. Soldiers from many European countries are to participate in these maneuvers. Among them we will find Germany or France. The sending of his forces is even considering the not-known military power of Estonia (but it should be stressed that no of the allies has so far delegated crucial forces). Conservative politics are trying to run the Donald Tusk government. The Polish Prime Minister at the press conference stated that ,,an effort to take the territory of a state that is simply a NATO associate by a second state that is simply a NATO member, and that is in addition the United States, would be the end of a planet that we know and that has guaranteed us safety for decades." On the another hand, the Prime Minister excluded the anticipation of Polish troops present in Greenland.
Of course, no of the European leaders can imagine a conflict with the US. On January 17, Donald Trump threatened to impose fresh duties on European countries. The continuation of the crisis around Greenland is not conducive to achieving European policy objectives. The longer the eyes of American politicians are turned to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, the little attention the United States has given to matters related to the east flank of NATO as well as the situation in Ukraine. In this context, the attitude of the US president to the leader of Ukraine is simply a peculiarly alarming signal. "I just think it is hard for him to get to this place" – so Donald Trump assessed Volodymyr Zelenski's quest to make peace.
This situation is beneficial for Russia's president Vladimir Putin. Tarcia in NATO is simply a dream script for Moscow. On this subject, Mr Jamie Shea, an expert in defence and global safety at the Think Tank Chatham House, spoke to CNBC. Russia's president would "be delighted to see further divisions and inconsistencies in NATO and a powerful transatlantic crisis that could prompt the US to halt supporting Ukraine and retreat US troops from Europe". For CNBC, the interview was besides given by Edward R. Arnold, working scientifically for the British think tank RUSI, who stated that if Greenland's annex became real, it would mean that "NATO would actually consume itself politically".
The European Parliament may block the agreement with the US on common customs./Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), photograph Diliff
Smoke blind
The past fewer months have not been a period that the US administration will remember with a grin on its face. This consists of a fall blockade of national funding, Epstein's scandal, or Democrats' successes in local elections. The second main organization in the United States caught the wind on the sails. It doesn't affect the president's position. According to a survey conducted for CNN, as many as 63% of Americans are negatively assessing the actions of the US leader. Republicans have something to fear about half-election to Congress. Donald Trump could number on aggressive global moves and projected fast victories to repair the polls. This could have been 1 of the reasons for the intervention in Venezuela and the onset of the Arctic crisis. But that did not happen. According to Reuters and Ipsos, Greenland's thought of taking over is supported by only 17% of American society. And even any Republicans are turning distant from president Trump's politics.
The situation remains very tense. erstwhile examining the actions taken by the United States government, it can be concluded that the post-war global order, based on the strength and unity of the North Atlantic Alliance, wobbles before our eyes. Donald Trump is surely looking at the autumn half-election. He'll most likely want to end the Arctic problem as shortly as possible. In addition, global problems are growing. Iran, Cuba or Colombia do not stay indifferent either to the administration or to the public. This may mean greater courage in action in different parts of the world. Europe is facing the biggest problem in view of the exhausting Atlantic formula. The leaders of the Old Continent must consider whether it makes sense to proceed to base their safety on the US. First of all – whether they want to keep any subjectivity on the global stage.
Mr Jakub Balinski
