UNI NEWS ANALYSIS
BY RAMESH BHAN
New Delhi, Jan 21 (UNI) From MAGA (Make America Great Again) to MAGO (Made America Global Outcast) to MAGA again…(Make America Go Away.)
US President Donald Trump’s idea of Greenland grab has pitted him against Europe, his allies.
Greenlanders, for the past few days, have been wearing the characteristic red caps used by Trump with MAGA (Make America Great Again) written on these (caps), replacing it with MAGA (Make America Go Away).
The United States under President Donald Trump has, indeed, come a long way—from domination to isolation. Earlier, all major European countries and NATO nations were staunch supporters of the US, even on the Venezuela issue. But after Trump made clear his intentions of Greenland grab, European nations have rallied against him and expressed support for Greenland and Denmark.
The isolation is near complete at the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos. Many world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have been very vocal against Trump and his policies, especially on Greenland. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the time for appeasement was over and Europe should unite against Trump's provocations regarding Greenland and tariffs.
Speaking at the WEF, Macron said France and Europe would not “passively accept the law of the strongest.” He said Europe would continue to defend territorial sovereignty and the rule of law, even as the world shifts towards “a rules-free order.” ‘’We prefer respect to bullies,” Macron said. “And we prefer the rule of law to brutality,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the Greenland development and Trump’s tariff warnings as a "rupture" in the U.S.-led global system and a "fading" rules-based order. Carney reaffirmed Canada’s support for Denmark and Greenland and said, "We stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland's future," and strongly oppose tariffs over the issue.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the need for Europe to build a "new independent Europe" and respond to global shifts. She said the European union stands in "full solidarity" with Greenland and Denmark, emphasising their sovereignty is "non-negotiable." She also assured an "unflinching, united and proportional" response to any tariff threats (by the US).
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Greenland is not for sale and that its future lies solely in the hands of its people. She said Europe won't be ‘’blackmailed" by Trump's tariff threats. Greenland's Prime Minister Mette Egede echoed Frederiksen’s sentiments and said the ‘’people do not want to be Americans.’’
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said, "Eighty years of Atlanticism are drawing to a close", and Europe must unite against Trump's actions. "Either we stand together, or we stand divided," the Belgian Prime Minister said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would challenge Trump's position on Greenland when necessary. He described the tariff threat as "completely wrong".
Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng stressed on safeguarding multilateralism and cautioned that the multilateral trading system is facing the most serious challenges. ”We should firmly safeguard multilateralism and make the international economic and trade order more just and equitable. The multilateral trading system now faces the most serious challenges in years. The unilateral acts and trade deals of certain countries clearly violate the fundamental principles and principles of the WTO, and severely impact the global economic and trade order,’’ he said.
However, even in the face of strong criticism and opposition, Trump is adamant on Greenland grab. ‘’As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for national and world security. There can be no going back----everyone agrees,’’ Trump posted on his social media platform.
The situation involving the Greenland issue and tariff threats by the US against some European nations, including France, is perhaps the worst in many years for trans-Atlantic relations, although this is not the first time that the US has come under attack at Davos. The anti-US sentiment is not new to WEF, which has a history of hosting geopolitical disputes and anti-U.S. political rhetoric. The focus on Greenland is part of a trend.
In 2009, during the global financial crisis, some European leaders at Davos blamed the US and "Western Capitalism" for the economic meltdown. In 2003, the US used the WEF forum to seek support for an attack on Iraq. Many countries, including allies, strongly opposed the idea. However, the US went ahead and attacked Iraq.
European leaders have often emphasised the importance of multilateralism and international law in response to unilateral US foreign policies, particularly during the Trump administration.
The most important players, including Russia and China, are surprisingly silent and watching the developments from the sidelines. European leaders openly call for building bridges with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The US is clearly losing allies to Russia and China. The strained relationship and loss of trust between the US and Europe are indeed Russia’s and China’s gain.
Trump has unintentionally weakened the unity of NATO to the benefit of Russia and China, and the US is increasingly being perceived as an unpredictable ally. The rupture in the trust between the US and Europe provides both Russia and China with a strategic victory. European nations are increasingly seeking to strengthen partnerships, including economic and infrastructural ties with China.
The US is at a loss, which is adding to its isolation.
UNI RB 1630