The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer Trump’s Greenland Gambit
Jan 23, 2026
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer dive into Trump's controversial Greenland gambit, exploring its impact on NATO and U.S. alliances. They dissect the mixed reactions from Europe to Trump's tariff threats and discuss the underlying motives driving U.S. interest in Greenland. The conversation also touches on military options in Iran, the strategic implications of tariffs, and how adversaries like Russia and China are watching the transatlantic strain. Ultimately, they assess the long-term costs of current U.S. actions on global partnerships.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Territorial Ambition Drives Greenland Push
- Jake Sullivan argues Trump's Greenland obsession stems from a desire to add sovereign land to the United States and secure a historic legacy.
- This mindset makes leases and access insufficient in Trump's view, pushing him toward demands for ownership.
Escalation And Mixed European Responses
- Jon Finer and Jake Sullivan trace Trump's escalation: letters, tariff threats, and comments implying force over Greenland.
- European reactions were mixed, with strong pushback from some leaders and silence or moderation from others.
Davos: No War, But NATO Undermined
- Trump's Davos speech publicly took force off the table but reiterated negotiations and threatened to 'remember' if denied.
- He also attacked NATO's value, which risks alienating close allies like Denmark that have fought alongside the U.S.
