Bulwark Takes BREAKING: Trump Threatens Europe Over Greenland; Europe Responds
4 snips
Jan 17, 2026 The hosts explore Donald Trump's aggressive threats to Europe over Greenland, framing it as a dangerous shift in U.S. foreign policy. They discuss Europe's military response, comparing Trump's tactics to those of Putin. Insights into the impracticalities of buying Greenland raise questions about trust and U.S. credibility. A provocative debate about NATO's future and potential scenarios from theatrics to invasion keeps listeners intrigued. The conversation highlights the complex interplay of sovereignty, coercion, and the implications for global diplomacy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hostile Framing Of European Moves
- Donald Trump framed European deployments to Greenland as a hostile threat and used that to justify coercive tariffs and demands.
- Jonathan V. Last argues this shifts U.S. policy from negotiation to coercion and possible pretext for force.
Manufacturing Crises As Pretext
- Jonathan V. Last compares Trump's strategy to classic authoritarian playbooks that manufacture crises as pretext for invasion.
- He likens the pattern to Vladimir Putin's actions in Georgia and Ukraine as 'gray zone' warfare turned overt.
Europeans Respond, Trump Escalates
- European countries responded to Trump's warnings by sending small deployments to Greenland to demonstrate capability.
- Will Saletan notes Trump's reaction treated Europe's compliance as a hostile act, escalating tensions.