Deploying instruments of Synthetic Intelligence (AI), with some techniques described as plain previous “bullying”, US President Donald Trump has escalated his marketing campaign to reshape international geography and diplomacy, vowing there’s “no going again” on his ambition to grab management of Greenland.
His arsenal now consists of leaked non-public correspondence and AI-generated propaganda, together with tariff threats. This has earned him an outline as “a global gangster” from a prime chief within the UK, a longtime American ally.
And Greenland shouldn’t be all. There’s Gaza too.
The realty tycoon-cum-reality TV star has been extra ballistic as a second-time President, particularly after just lately utilizing the US army to forcibly change the regime in Venezuela.
Now he targets not solely the sovereignty of the Arctic island of Greenland that is held by Denmark, but additionally the autonomy of European coverage on the Palestinian territory of Gaza and the broader Center East. He has picked a combat with the French President over his nation most likely not becoming a member of his “Board of Peace” for Gaza.
However his administration is insisting — whereas world leaders collect for the World Financial Discussion board in Switzerland’s Davos — that it is nothing large. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent dismissed issues as “hysteria”. Trump, in the meantime, refused to rule out the usage of pressure to fulfil his expansionist wishes.
Trump’s upfront threats, Nobel obsession
“As I expressed to everybody, very plainly, Greenland is crucial for Nationwide and World Safety. There could be no going again — On that, everybody agrees!” Trump defiantly posted on social media after a chat with safety grouping NATO’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte.
Trump has insisted the US “requires” the island for safety causes to counter perceived threats from China and Russia.
In a letter to Norway, he made no secret that his not getting the Nobel Peace Prize — given by a committee within the Scandinavian nation — is a cause why he “not” desires to pursue peace and desires Greenland any-which-way.
The 2025 laureate, Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado, has already introduced her medal to Donald Trump. This may occasionally enhance her possibilities in her dwelling nation after the US “seized” President Nicolas Maduro just lately. However the Nobel Basis has confirmed that an award stays completely related to the person to whom it was initially granted.
Planting a flag, baiting the world
An unfazed Trump posted AI-generated mock-ups on social media, together with a picture of himself in Greenland planting a US flag. One other depicted the Oval Workplace that includes a map the place each Greenland and Canada had been lined by the Stars and Stripes. Trump has repeatedly stated he desires Canada to “turn out to be the 51st state”, getting sharp reactions from Ottawa.
However mock digital imagery was no restrict. Trump dropped all adherence to any diplomatic protocol by leaking non-public communications too.
He printed a textual content message from French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the latter expressed confusion over the American pursuit of Greenland. Whereas an official on the Elysée Palace confirmed the message was real, they famous it merely confirmed that Macron took the identical views in non-public as he did in public.
Trump, in the meantime, continued to brandish the tariff stick.
Tariff menace once more, and once more
He introduced a ten% to 25% import tax, set to start in February, concentrating on eight European nations which have supported Denmark’s refusal to barter the sale of Greenland. He explicitly linked these tariffs to the current deployment of European troops to the island.
This sample — seen in his coping with India over Delhi’s oil offers with Russia — extends to his plans for the Center East.
In his combat with the French President, too, when Macron confirmed reluctance to hitch the “Board of Peace”, fearing the initiative would undermine the United Nations, Trump responded with a large menace.
“I will put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll be a part of, however he does not have to hitch,” Trump informed reporters.
He added, “Nicely, no person desires him, as a result of he will probably be out of workplace very quickly.”
The proposed board has additional raised eyebrows because of a draft constitution requiring member nations to contribute $1 billion in money to keep up their membership past three years.
India and Pakistan, even Russia, are amongst at the least 60 international locations that have gotten Trump’s invitation.
Pushback in UK; Europe readies for affect
It is within the UK that the response to Trump’s techniques has been significantly visceral.
Liberal Democrat chief Ed Davey delivered a stinging rebuke in Parliament.
“President Trump is performing like a global gangster,” Davey stated, accusing him of “threatening to trample over the sovereignty of an ally, threatening the tip of NATO altogether, and now threatening to hit our nation and 7 European allies with outrageous, damaging tariffs except he will get his fingers on Greenland”.
Davey, chief of the third largest get together in UK’s parliament after the ruling Labour Get together and the Conservatives, argued that the UK’s coverage of “appeasing Trump, flattering him, [and] fawning over him” had failed.
Arguing that the historic “particular relationship” is now “almost in tatters”, Davey characterised the President as “probably the most corrupt president america has ever seen” and “a bully… who thinks he can seize no matter he desires utilizing pressure if crucial”.
In line with Davey, the one world leaders benefiting from this chaos are Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping of Russia and China.
Past the rhetoric, because the February deadline for the brand new tariffs approaches, the European Union is getting ready its response. Diplomats are contemplating a 93-billion euro tariff riposte, and the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument that would permit the bloc to sanction people or establishments, limit investments, or restrict entry to profitable digital providers.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen has recommended a extra everlasting shift is underway, talking of a “new unbiased Europe”.
Trump’s administration, amid all this, has tried to mission it is all a part of the sport. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, talking in Davos, urged allies to “take a deep breath” and “sit again, loosen up”. He insisted that relations have by no means been nearer.
(inputs from Reuters, AP)
