The Monocle Daily Europe scrambles to respond after Trump’s Greenland threats
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Jan 7, 2026 Isabel Hilton, founder of China Dialogue and expert on international affairs, joins Philippe Marlier, a professor of European politics, to discuss Trump's provocative threats against Greenland. They analyze Europe's alarm over these moves and the implications for NATO. The conversation also dives into China's concerns regarding U.S. actions in Venezuela and its broader diplomatic stakes in the region. They further explore the complexities of electoral politics in Europe, from Italy's reforms to the shortcomings of the UK's first-past-the-post system, all while touching on South Korea's new public health initiatives against baldness.
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A Quiet Highland Recharge
- Isabel Hilton spent her holidays recharging in the West Highlands of Scotland where the loudest sounds were birds and the occasional drunk falling over.
- She used that quiet to reflect before returning to the chaotic news cycle.
NATO's Fragility Exposed
- Donald Trump's threats over Greenland have exposed cracks in NATO and forced Europe to rethink defence reliance on the US.
- Isabel Hilton and Philippe Marlier argue Europe may need to develop its own strategic military response if US unpredictability continues.
Threats Over Invitation Are Counterproductive
- Threatening to occupy Greenland makes little strategic sense because the US already has long-standing bases and could expand presence by invitation.
- Isabel Hilton says such threats mainly damage European trust and strengthen rivals like China and Russia.