On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti How the U.S. could 'lose the 21st century' over Greenland
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Jan 14, 2026 Charles Kupchan, a geopolitical expert, and James Baker, a security analyst, join politics journalist Magnus Lund Nielsen to dissect the implications of Trump's Greenland ambitions. They discuss how attempting to 'take' Greenland could undermine NATO and violate international norms. Magnus shares local Greenlanders' concerns while Charles emphasizes the historical context of such imperialism. Baker warns of dire consequences if NATO falters, highlighting the multifaceted interests at stake, including security and self-determination.
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Territorial Instinct Over Strategy
- President Trump's push to "own" Greenland reflects a 19th-century expansionist instinct rather than coherent modern strategy.
- Charles A. Kupchan links this impulse to manifest-destiny style territorialism and real estate thinking.
Annexation Would Shatter Alliances
- Coercive takeover of Greenland would be an act of imperial aggression comparable to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
- Kupchan warns such a move would shatter NATO and global trust in the U.S.
Four Competing Greenland Stakes
- Greenland raises overlapping stakes: Arctic security, minerals, strategic choke points, and local self-determination.
- Judge James Baker stresses that all four interests must inform U.S. policy toward Greenland.