Expert after Trump's demands for NATO: "Not going to happen"

Linnea Blomberg

Published 17.07

 

Donald Trump has turned up the tone against NATO. Photo: Ryan Sun / AP

Donald Trump is turning up the tone even further.

Ahead of today's meeting between the US, Denmark and Greenland, he claims that the US must get NATO help to take control of Greenland.

- He believes that the US and he are all-powerful and can do anything, says political science professor Jan Hallenberg.

"NATO should pave the way for us to get it. IF WE DON'T DO IT, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL DO IT, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN," 

Donald Trump

 wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.

He continued:

“NATO will be much more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the 

US

. Anything other than that is unacceptable.

“It will not happen”

Jan Hallenberg,

 professor emeritus of political science at the National Defence College, believes that the rhetoric is sharp – but that the words will not become reality.

“He has been saying this for a year. But it will not happen now either,” says Hallenberg and continues:

“There are no other NATO countries that will help him and the US take Greenland.”

According to Hallenberg, Trump’s statement is based on a notion of American omnipotence.

Hallenberg does not believe that Trump fully realizes the consequences – yet.

“He will probably understand it. Maybe after today’s meeting, I don’t know. No, he will eventually understand it, but when that will be, I don’t know.

“He believes that the US and he are all-powerful and can do anything. There is no limit – especially after Venezuela, he believes that he can go on water, says Hallenberg.

 

Jan Hallenberg, professor emeritus of political science. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Ahead of the meeting this afternoon: “Unpleasant”

This afternoon, a meeting will be held between the US, Denmark and the Greenland government. Hallenberg's expectations are low.

– In the worst case, it could be a rather unpleasant meeting between these politicians and diplomats, he says and continues:

– I think they will agree that they do not agree. Unless Rubio manages to stitch together a diplomatic solution.

He believes that the US will use a tough tone.

– I think Vance will resort to forceful language, but that will not help, says Hallenberg.

“The rhetoric is not good – but action would be worse”

Although Trump is not formally saying that the US should annex Greenland, Hallenberg believes that the tone is close.

– The rhetoric is not good, but doing it seriously is even worse, says he.

At the same time, Hallenberg points out that the conflict is largely rooted in a misunderstanding on Trump's part.

- This shows a fundamental misunderstanding on the part of the president about what the situation actually looks like, says Hallenberg.