"President Donald Trump's relentless and escalating drive to acquire Greenland from Denmark, whose government- along with that of Greenland-emphatically rejects the idea, has unnerved, offended, and outraged leaders of countries considered allies for decades. It's the latest, and perhaps most significant, eruption of an attitude of disdain towards allies that has become a hallmark of the second Trump administration, which has espoused an America First approach to the world."
"Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have all said a lot of things about longtime allies that have caused frustration and outright friction among the leaders of those countries. The latest discord over Greenland could affect the functioning and even existence of NATO, the post-World War II alliance of Western nations that "won the Cold War and led the globe," as a recent Wall Street Journal story put it."
"As a former diplomat, I'm aware that how the U.S. treats its allies has been a crucial question in every presidency, since George Washington became the country's first chief executive. On his way out of that job, Washington said something that Trump, Vance, and their fellow America First advocates would probably embrace. In what's known as his "Farewell Address," Washington warned Americans against "entangling alliances." Washington wanted America to treat all nations fairly, and warned against both permanent friendships and permanent enemies."
President Donald Trump pursued acquiring Greenland from Denmark despite firm rejection by Denmark and Greenland, creating international alarm. The proposal and repeated disparaging remarks from Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signal an America First posture that treats longstanding allies with disdain. The episode has unnerved and outraged allied leaders and risks producing friction that could impair NATO's functioning or survival. Historical precedent from George Washington's Farewell Address warned against entangling alliances and against permanent friendships or enemies, emphasizing fair treatment of nations while cautioning about rigid commitments.
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