What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead Venezuela, Greenland, Iran
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Jan 10, 2026 
Walter Russell Mead, a renowned historian and foreign-policy commentator, dives deep into international affairs. He explores the Trump administration's interest in Greenland, drawing parallels to past territorial acquisitions. The discussion shifts to Iran, where ongoing protests reveal the complexities behind regime change. Mead argues that the Maduro regime in Venezuela faces great internal corruption, making it vulnerable to external pressures. He warns of the potential complications posed by Russia, China, and Cuba in U.S. intervention strategies.
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Greenland Echoes Historical Expansion
- Greenland fits the profile of past U.S. acquisitions: strategic value and very small population.
- Walter Russell Mead argues expanding hemispheric influence has historical precedent and current political traction.
Iran Protests: Two Uncertain Paths
- Iran's protests could lead either to regime collapse or violent repression; outcomes remain uncertain.
- Mead emphasizes external threats and interventions would complicate internal Iranian dynamics.
Don't Assume Others Share Our Moral Frame
- Western elites misread foreign actors by assuming shared moral frameworks and motives.
- Mead calls this worldview 'narcissism' that blinds policymakers to realpolitik calculations.