Denmark historically values its alliance with the United States and previously made a notable military contribution during the Iraq war. Trump's repeated calls to annex Greenland and refusal to rule out military action elevated a bilateral dispute into a full diplomatic incident. Three associates of Trump were reported to have attempted to foment a secessionist movement in Greenland, prompting the Danish foreign minister to summon the top U.S. diplomat in Denmark for answers. A White House official dismissed Danish concerns. The episode exemplifies a foreign-policy style defined by arrogance, bluster, and recklessness that damages U.S. standing.
On Wednesday, the Danish foreign minister summoned Mark Stroh, the top US diplomat in Denmark, demanding answers about reports that three associates of Trump had been caught trying to foment a secessionist movement in the Danish territory of Greenland. Trump, of course,has repeatedly called for the annexation of Greenland by the United States and refuses to rule out a military invasion. But this was the first inkling that these plans were something more than bluster.
Before Donald Trump, the idea of a diplomatic spat between Denmark and the United States would have sounded outlandish. Even more than many of its European peers, Denmark has historically placed a premium on its alliance with the United States. During the George W. Bush administration, for instance, it was one of only five West European countries to sign up for the "coalition of the willing" supporting the Iraq war (along with the United Kingdom, Spain,
The Danish feud underscores that, even more than in his first term, Trump's diplomacy is now little more than a mixture of relentless arrogance, bluster, and recklessness. Actually, calling what Trump and his crew are doing "diplomacy" isn't quite right. Instead, they're using the world stage to show off their swagger.
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