Marcus Walker
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Even if a compromise is found on the Greenland issue, things will never be the same.
A line has been crossed here because of Trump's willingness really to consider all options, including force, against the U.S.
's own allies.
Well, there has been a flurry of diplomacy both in public and in private between Trump and other White House officials and the European side.
The Europeans are planning an emergency summit of European Union leaders on Thursday in Brussels.
Before that, it's likely that Trump will meet some European leaders in Davos.
Trump has said he will meet various parties without specifying whom at the World Economic Forum.
after which it remains completely unclear whether Trump will go ahead with his threat to impose tariffs on some European countries from the 1st of February and whether it will escalate or whether some solution will be found in the meantime.
It's clear from the communications in the last few hours or overnight that Trump is not backing down from his demand that the US should own Greenland and should take it over
completely.
Even though Trump said that he had a good conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Ritter, he emphasized that he needs to own Greenland, in his view.
At the same time, Trump has said further critical things about other European allies.
He criticized the UK for giving away Chagos, even though Trump had previously approved that move.
And he threatened France with 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne unless Macron agrees to join Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza.
So the tensions and the mixed messages are continuing.
On the one hand, conversations are happening.
On the other hand, he continues to take a very dim view of European allies and maintain his demand about Greenland.
Yes, indeed.
So the Atlantic Alliance, NATO as the military core of that alliance, has always relied as much on trust and on a belief in common commitment as on its military infrastructure.
And that part of it is what is really coming under fire and into increasing doubt because Trump has long been a skeptic about NATO and has made no secret about that.