It's an issue that he even attempts to suck up to Trump.
The US will not respect weakness.
The Trump admin desperately needs to maintain the economic status quo with the EU going into the Midterms this year.
Whenever the EU starts to find a sense of agency its leaders retreat; this must change.
The US will not respect weakness.
The Trump admin desperately needs to maintain the economic status quo with the EU going into the Midterms this year.
Whenever the EU starts to find a sense of agency its leaders retreat; this must change.
January 27, 2026 at 10:12 AM
It's an issue that he even attempts to suck up to Trump.
The US will not respect weakness.
The Trump admin desperately needs to maintain the economic status quo with the EU going into the Midterms this year.
Whenever the EU starts to find a sense of agency its leaders retreat; this must change.
The US will not respect weakness.
The Trump admin desperately needs to maintain the economic status quo with the EU going into the Midterms this year.
Whenever the EU starts to find a sense of agency its leaders retreat; this must change.
Why hedge at this point?
Why engage in ritual self humiliation?
Europe only JUST beat back the US on a major issue, and already dozens of officials are scrambling to suck up to the Trump admin and reverse any perceptions of unity or strength.
I just don't understand the European desire to be weak.
Why engage in ritual self humiliation?
Europe only JUST beat back the US on a major issue, and already dozens of officials are scrambling to suck up to the Trump admin and reverse any perceptions of unity or strength.
I just don't understand the European desire to be weak.
January 27, 2026 at 6:33 AM
Why hedge at this point?
Why engage in ritual self humiliation?
Europe only JUST beat back the US on a major issue, and already dozens of officials are scrambling to suck up to the Trump admin and reverse any perceptions of unity or strength.
I just don't understand the European desire to be weak.
Why engage in ritual self humiliation?
Europe only JUST beat back the US on a major issue, and already dozens of officials are scrambling to suck up to the Trump admin and reverse any perceptions of unity or strength.
I just don't understand the European desire to be weak.
Unironically, if one in the US develops a major health complication, has a child with a serious congenital health defect, or becomes infirm, the cost of care rapidly climbs to several hundred thousand a year 😓...
January 22, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Unironically, if one in the US develops a major health complication, has a child with a serious congenital health defect, or becomes infirm, the cost of care rapidly climbs to several hundred thousand a year 😓...
It's almost as if being in NATO means you can rely on friendly Canadian and European ice breakers while focusing on your comparative advantages by instead investing in carriers 🤔...🙄
January 19, 2026 at 12:18 AM
It's almost as if being in NATO means you can rely on friendly Canadian and European ice breakers while focusing on your comparative advantages by instead investing in carriers 🤔...🙄
We've re-entered a world in which the only escalation management is action, or inaction.
We should all understand that no degree of "strongly worded letters", "statements", "memoranda", or "treaties" matters.
All that matters is what we do, or do not.
Does Europe value Greenland? Prove it.
We should all understand that no degree of "strongly worded letters", "statements", "memoranda", or "treaties" matters.
All that matters is what we do, or do not.
Does Europe value Greenland? Prove it.
January 16, 2026 at 8:17 AM
We've re-entered a world in which the only escalation management is action, or inaction.
We should all understand that no degree of "strongly worded letters", "statements", "memoranda", or "treaties" matters.
All that matters is what we do, or do not.
Does Europe value Greenland? Prove it.
We should all understand that no degree of "strongly worded letters", "statements", "memoranda", or "treaties" matters.
All that matters is what we do, or do not.
Does Europe value Greenland? Prove it.
Oh wow! Turns out once even a little political will was found, the Danish army was able to do the impossible and find a few soldiers to get things moving (literally) to Greenland 😅!
January 14, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Oh wow! Turns out once even a little political will was found, the Danish army was able to do the impossible and find a few soldiers to get things moving (literally) to Greenland 😅!
Not sure the threat of hunting rifles offers much in the way of deterrence.
Maybe things like FPV/loitering drones and trained operators are on standby could offer deterrence more generally.
Ideally a strong posture would wholly dissuade the notion of an "easy" victory, and thereby war itself.
Maybe things like FPV/loitering drones and trained operators are on standby could offer deterrence more generally.
Ideally a strong posture would wholly dissuade the notion of an "easy" victory, and thereby war itself.
January 9, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Not sure the threat of hunting rifles offers much in the way of deterrence.
Maybe things like FPV/loitering drones and trained operators are on standby could offer deterrence more generally.
Ideally a strong posture would wholly dissuade the notion of an "easy" victory, and thereby war itself.
Maybe things like FPV/loitering drones and trained operators are on standby could offer deterrence more generally.
Ideally a strong posture would wholly dissuade the notion of an "easy" victory, and thereby war itself.
Thanks to Lance Armstrong I am somewhat familiar with it 😅...
January 9, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Thanks to Lance Armstrong I am somewhat familiar with it 😅...
A sad state of affairs, guess that's to be expected when internal political incentives become so misaligned.
Most congressmen would rather back an objectively bad foreign policy if it means keeping their MAGA base of support happy (and winning re-election).
What's "best" no longer matters.
Most congressmen would rather back an objectively bad foreign policy if it means keeping their MAGA base of support happy (and winning re-election).
What's "best" no longer matters.
January 9, 2026 at 2:21 PM
A sad state of affairs, guess that's to be expected when internal political incentives become so misaligned.
Most congressmen would rather back an objectively bad foreign policy if it means keeping their MAGA base of support happy (and winning re-election).
What's "best" no longer matters.
Most congressmen would rather back an objectively bad foreign policy if it means keeping their MAGA base of support happy (and winning re-election).
What's "best" no longer matters.
Tens of millions of Americans envision a shooting war, albeit one in which meaningful casualties are only felt by those who stand in the way.
Or worse still, that Greenland can be taken without a shot, just by show of force.
I think these are misunderstandings born of perceived European weakness.
Or worse still, that Greenland can be taken without a shot, just by show of force.
I think these are misunderstandings born of perceived European weakness.
January 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Tens of millions of Americans envision a shooting war, albeit one in which meaningful casualties are only felt by those who stand in the way.
Or worse still, that Greenland can be taken without a shot, just by show of force.
I think these are misunderstandings born of perceived European weakness.
Or worse still, that Greenland can be taken without a shot, just by show of force.
I think these are misunderstandings born of perceived European weakness.
Territorial Defence Force, armed and trained irregulars with the weapons of austere combat, tactical drones, encrypted communications, small arms and so forth.
January 9, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Territorial Defence Force, armed and trained irregulars with the weapons of austere combat, tactical drones, encrypted communications, small arms and so forth.
I guess we wait and see what the Danish government opts to do eh?
Last year they rebuffed the offers of allied troops in Greenland as to not be provocative, but if Denmark is truly this restricted in capacity, it's time to reappraise that assessment.
Any thoughts on a local TDF approach/stop-gap?
Last year they rebuffed the offers of allied troops in Greenland as to not be provocative, but if Denmark is truly this restricted in capacity, it's time to reappraise that assessment.
Any thoughts on a local TDF approach/stop-gap?
January 9, 2026 at 12:34 PM
I guess we wait and see what the Danish government opts to do eh?
Last year they rebuffed the offers of allied troops in Greenland as to not be provocative, but if Denmark is truly this restricted in capacity, it's time to reappraise that assessment.
Any thoughts on a local TDF approach/stop-gap?
Last year they rebuffed the offers of allied troops in Greenland as to not be provocative, but if Denmark is truly this restricted in capacity, it's time to reappraise that assessment.
Any thoughts on a local TDF approach/stop-gap?
I'm certainly not appraised of the on the ground situation in Western Europe, but since Denmark is not sending troops to Ukraine to confront Russia, nor at risk of a ground invasion of the mainland, wouldn't it make more sense to station its ground forces to deter the real and immediate US threat?
January 9, 2026 at 12:28 PM
I'm certainly not appraised of the on the ground situation in Western Europe, but since Denmark is not sending troops to Ukraine to confront Russia, nor at risk of a ground invasion of the mainland, wouldn't it make more sense to station its ground forces to deter the real and immediate US threat?
From an American perspective, if Denmark and its European allies are too fearful to even station their own troops in Greenland, why should anyone take them seriously when they talk of going to war to defend it?
Stationing a Danish division is much less an "escalation", but even that is too much😓...
Stationing a Danish division is much less an "escalation", but even that is too much😓...
January 9, 2026 at 12:15 PM
From an American perspective, if Denmark and its European allies are too fearful to even station their own troops in Greenland, why should anyone take them seriously when they talk of going to war to defend it?
Stationing a Danish division is much less an "escalation", but even that is too much😓...
Stationing a Danish division is much less an "escalation", but even that is too much😓...
Stating the obvious here, but "white men" are an absolute minority in the overwhelming majority of countries on Earth...
Speaking as one in such a minority status...it's fine, I feel safer here than in the US where I'd be in the "majority". 🙄...
(Noone is shooting at me where I live).
Speaking as one in such a minority status...it's fine, I feel safer here than in the US where I'd be in the "majority". 🙄...
(Noone is shooting at me where I live).
January 9, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Stating the obvious here, but "white men" are an absolute minority in the overwhelming majority of countries on Earth...
Speaking as one in such a minority status...it's fine, I feel safer here than in the US where I'd be in the "majority". 🙄...
(Noone is shooting at me where I live).
Speaking as one in such a minority status...it's fine, I feel safer here than in the US where I'd be in the "majority". 🙄...
(Noone is shooting at me where I live).
I won't be holding my breath.
That being said, putting a joint division, or hell, even a brigade of European troops on Greenland ahead of their summit with the US on the matter would send a stronger message than any number of "strongly worded statements".
That being said, putting a joint division, or hell, even a brigade of European troops on Greenland ahead of their summit with the US on the matter would send a stronger message than any number of "strongly worded statements".
January 7, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I won't be holding my breath.
That being said, putting a joint division, or hell, even a brigade of European troops on Greenland ahead of their summit with the US on the matter would send a stronger message than any number of "strongly worded statements".
That being said, putting a joint division, or hell, even a brigade of European troops on Greenland ahead of their summit with the US on the matter would send a stronger message than any number of "strongly worded statements".
An unrelated and informal proposition from months back is a bit short of an order from the French parliament to deploy troops...
It seems no one has formally ordered troops to deploy, therefore Denmark has not had to formally reject them no?
Sorry, I'm generally frustrated with the whole affair 😓
It seems no one has formally ordered troops to deploy, therefore Denmark has not had to formally reject them no?
Sorry, I'm generally frustrated with the whole affair 😓
January 7, 2026 at 10:04 PM
An unrelated and informal proposition from months back is a bit short of an order from the French parliament to deploy troops...
It seems no one has formally ordered troops to deploy, therefore Denmark has not had to formally reject them no?
Sorry, I'm generally frustrated with the whole affair 😓
It seems no one has formally ordered troops to deploy, therefore Denmark has not had to formally reject them no?
Sorry, I'm generally frustrated with the whole affair 😓
Do you have some source for that?
All I could find was a half suggestion by the French foreign minister from nearly a full year ago, totally unrelated to the recent incident with Venezuela or the most recent statements made by US officials about Greenland.
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
All I could find was a half suggestion by the French foreign minister from nearly a full year ago, totally unrelated to the recent incident with Venezuela or the most recent statements made by US officials about Greenland.
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
France floated sending troops to Greenland, foreign minister says
Jean-Noël Barrot notes that sending European troops to Greenland is not an option right now.
www.politico.eu
January 7, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Do you have some source for that?
All I could find was a half suggestion by the French foreign minister from nearly a full year ago, totally unrelated to the recent incident with Venezuela or the most recent statements made by US officials about Greenland.
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
All I could find was a half suggestion by the French foreign minister from nearly a full year ago, totally unrelated to the recent incident with Venezuela or the most recent statements made by US officials about Greenland.
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
What that appears to be is misinformation based on a rumour half suggested by the French foreign minister from nearly a full year ago, long before this incident with Venezuela or the most recently made statements by US officials.
The lesson? Stop using grok/chatgpt and source things ourselves eh?
The lesson? Stop using grok/chatgpt and source things ourselves eh?
January 7, 2026 at 9:44 AM
What that appears to be is misinformation based on a rumour half suggested by the French foreign minister from nearly a full year ago, long before this incident with Venezuela or the most recently made statements by US officials.
The lesson? Stop using grok/chatgpt and source things ourselves eh?
The lesson? Stop using grok/chatgpt and source things ourselves eh?
Considering not a single European country has deployed as much as a single FPV drone, infantryman, or 5000 german army helmets in response to back up their Danish allies, I'd gather the answer to your hypothetical question is a resounding "no" 😓...
January 6, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Considering not a single European country has deployed as much as a single FPV drone, infantryman, or 5000 german army helmets in response to back up their Danish allies, I'd gather the answer to your hypothetical question is a resounding "no" 😓...
The opinions of whom, the average American?
If the official position of Denmark is that the american people will rise up and force their government to stop an unpopular military campaign because innocent people are suffering, than Denmark is ignoring the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
If the official position of Denmark is that the american people will rise up and force their government to stop an unpopular military campaign because innocent people are suffering, than Denmark is ignoring the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
January 6, 2026 at 12:26 PM
The opinions of whom, the average American?
If the official position of Denmark is that the american people will rise up and force their government to stop an unpopular military campaign because innocent people are suffering, than Denmark is ignoring the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
If the official position of Denmark is that the american people will rise up and force their government to stop an unpopular military campaign because innocent people are suffering, than Denmark is ignoring the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
While I think that was true up to and through most of the Bush Jr. admin, it seems that the modern issue is a strong sense of political apathy in the US.
A plurality of Americans believe that all politicians and policies are the same no matter what, so "why waste time worrying about that stuff".
A plurality of Americans believe that all politicians and policies are the same no matter what, so "why waste time worrying about that stuff".
January 6, 2026 at 2:42 AM
While I think that was true up to and through most of the Bush Jr. admin, it seems that the modern issue is a strong sense of political apathy in the US.
A plurality of Americans believe that all politicians and policies are the same no matter what, so "why waste time worrying about that stuff".
A plurality of Americans believe that all politicians and policies are the same no matter what, so "why waste time worrying about that stuff".
That's just the thing eh?
Most Americans may not "like" Trump, but de facto support is all they need.
In practice, the question is, what will Americans actually impeach and remove a President and their cabinet over?
So far the answer is literally nothing, and hence the line keeps moving 😖!!!
Most Americans may not "like" Trump, but de facto support is all they need.
In practice, the question is, what will Americans actually impeach and remove a President and their cabinet over?
So far the answer is literally nothing, and hence the line keeps moving 😖!!!
January 6, 2026 at 12:55 AM
That's just the thing eh?
Most Americans may not "like" Trump, but de facto support is all they need.
In practice, the question is, what will Americans actually impeach and remove a President and their cabinet over?
So far the answer is literally nothing, and hence the line keeps moving 😖!!!
Most Americans may not "like" Trump, but de facto support is all they need.
In practice, the question is, what will Americans actually impeach and remove a President and their cabinet over?
So far the answer is literally nothing, and hence the line keeps moving 😖!!!
My broader point is that we mistake "support" of a given issue as reflecting what Americans will actually go along with.
Ie. 70% support aid for Ukraine, but of that more than half support Trump's other policies MORE than Ukraine aid.
So they're happy to compromise and let the Ukraine aid get cut.
Ie. 70% support aid for Ukraine, but of that more than half support Trump's other policies MORE than Ukraine aid.
So they're happy to compromise and let the Ukraine aid get cut.
January 6, 2026 at 12:29 AM
My broader point is that we mistake "support" of a given issue as reflecting what Americans will actually go along with.
Ie. 70% support aid for Ukraine, but of that more than half support Trump's other policies MORE than Ukraine aid.
So they're happy to compromise and let the Ukraine aid get cut.
Ie. 70% support aid for Ukraine, but of that more than half support Trump's other policies MORE than Ukraine aid.
So they're happy to compromise and let the Ukraine aid get cut.
Borrowing this from TA-MajestyPalm on Reddit to make a point.
It's not that 77m Americans voted for unconditional support of anything Trump wants to do.
89m American non-voters who could have voted are also defacto in favor of anything he wants to do...
So closer to 70% than it is to 33%😞...
It's not that 77m Americans voted for unconditional support of anything Trump wants to do.
89m American non-voters who could have voted are also defacto in favor of anything he wants to do...
So closer to 70% than it is to 33%😞...
January 6, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Borrowing this from TA-MajestyPalm on Reddit to make a point.
It's not that 77m Americans voted for unconditional support of anything Trump wants to do.
89m American non-voters who could have voted are also defacto in favor of anything he wants to do...
So closer to 70% than it is to 33%😞...
It's not that 77m Americans voted for unconditional support of anything Trump wants to do.
89m American non-voters who could have voted are also defacto in favor of anything he wants to do...
So closer to 70% than it is to 33%😞...