Polar Geopolitics - Arctic and Antarctic analysis Coercive diplomacy: Trump’s turning of the screw in US pursuit of Greenland
Jan 8, 2026
In a captivating conversation, Steven Lamy, a political science expert from USC, delves into Trump’s controversial approach to Greenland. He characterizes this strategy as coercive diplomacy aiming at Denmark, a stark shift from post-war norms towards a 19th-century mindset. Lamy also analyzes the economic motives behind the interest, suggesting legacy concerns may drive the push more than security. The appointment of a special envoy is seen as symbolic, with the potential to fracture NATO ties. His insights into alternative strategies for cooperation are equally thought-provoking.
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Turning The Screw With Coercive Diplomacy
- Steven Lamy argues Trump's Greenland push is a form of coercive diplomacy that gradually "turns the screw."
- He frames it as unilateral, transactional pressure aimed at extracting concessions or control over resources.
Resources Drive Hemisphere Focus
- Lamy links the Greenland effort to Trump's broader Western-hemisphere sphere-of-influence view and economic aims.
- He says rare earth minerals and elite economic interests drive the strategy more than traditional security logic.
Unilateral Transactionalism, Not Classic Realism
- Lamy says Trump doesn't fit standard IR schools and acts as an idiosyncratic, transactional unilateralist.
- He emphasizes Trump's disdain for institutions like NATO and multilateral governance.
