The Two Matts Special edition with Paul Mason: Decoding Trump’s madness
Jan 19, 2026
Paul Mason, a Contributing Editor at The New World and a journalist specializing in defense and geopolitics, joins the Matts to dissect the recent diplomatic crisis surrounding Greenland. He explores how Trump's fixation on Greenland could alter NATO dynamics and highlights the strategic stakes in the Arctic amid rising tensions. The conversation touches on the complexities of treaties and internal politics influencing Trump's decisions, while also assessing Keir Starmer's diplomatic stance and the implications for UK-EU relations.
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Living In Map World To Anticipate Moves
- Paul Mason spent weeks 'living in map world' studying Arctic geography and militarisation.
- He used Google Earth and statistics to anticipate strategic moves around Greenland.
Trump's Greenland Threat Is Realpolitik
- Trump publicly threatened NATO allies with tariffs over Greenland, turning a distraction into a credible coercive policy.
- Matt d’Ancona says this marks a shift from bluster to an actionable foreign-policy lever that changes alliance dynamics.
NATO Strain Stems From U.S. Retreat
- NATO is treaty-bound and resilient, but current strain stems from declining American global power.
- Paul Mason argues Trump seeks American dominance in the Americas, making Greenland strategically significant beyond resources.