Europe's Red Lines Worked

"Yesterday afternoon, Donald Trump announced that he had "formed the framework of a future deal" with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, raising hopes in Europe that the Greenland crisis may have reached an end. The framework reportedly respects Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland and focuses instead on beefing up America's military presence in the territory, reaching a deal on crucial minerals, and increasing cooperation on both Arctic security and Trump's Golden Dome missile-defense system."

"It needs Trump whisperers who will flatter him, but it also needs to pack its velvet gloves with steel. If Europe's leaders only praise him, Trump is likely to ignore them when convenient, rip up any deals they have made, and take whatever he can when the opportunity arises. If they show only toughness, they risk prompting him to withdraw from NATO or rupture the transatlantic alliance in other ways."

"Just a few days ago, Trump refused to rule out the use of force in taking Greenland, and he promised to impose tariffs on eight countries that recently sent troops to the territory for a security mission, even though the deployment had been fully coordinated with the U.S. military. Then, in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday morning, Trump lambasted Europe: "If it wasn't for us, you'd all be speaking German and a little b"

Donald Trump said he had formed a framework of a future deal with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that reportedly respects Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland. The framework emphasizes expanding America's military presence in Greenland, securing deals on crucial minerals, enhancing Arctic security cooperation, and integrating the Golden Dome missile-defense system. European leaders face a dilemma between conciliatory engagement and imposing costs to deter threats. Europe likely needs envoys to flatter Trump while retaining credible deterrent options, because praise alone may invite exploitation and pure toughness may risk a transatlantic rupture. Recent threats and tariff promises illustrate the stakes.

Read at The Atlantic