But that quip doesn’t seem fair when it comes to Europe’s latest tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump over Greenland. Two weeks of turmoil sparked by Trump’s push to take control of the island “ one way or the other ” have forced the continent to accept that its most powerful ally can no longer be counted as one. It remains to be seen whether Europe’s fresh sense of urgency will endure—and translate into real strategic autonomy.
Former U.S. NATO Ambassador Kurt Volker often jokes that, in response to geopolitical threats, “the European default setting is to wait, worry, and complain.”
Former U.S. NATO Ambassador Kurt Volker often jokes that, in response to geopolitical threats, “the European default setting is to wait, worry, and complain.”
But that quip doesn’t seem fair when it comes to Europe’s latest tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump over Greenland. Two weeks of turmoil sparked by Trump’s push to take control of the island “one way or the other” have forced the continent to accept that its most powerful ally can no longer be counted as one. It remains to be seen whether Europe’s fresh sense of urgency will endure—and translate into real strategic autonomy.
For several weeks this month, Trump refused to rule out a military intervention to seize Greenland—although he said that he would not use force to acquire the territory during an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerl
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