By Janet Ekstract, NEW YORK-U.S. President Donald Trump’s insistence on owning Greenland has stirred a flurry of tension and negative sentiments throughout Greenland, Denmark and Europe, unsettling a number of world leaders who have labeled the move “unacceptable.” What is more astonishing is Trump’s note to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on January 18 where he wrote: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.” The note was confirmed by both PBS who first reported it and by Store’s office as Store responded: “Regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, I have repeatedly, clearly explained to Trump what is well known, namely, that it is an independent Nobel Committee, and not the Norwegian government that awards the prize.”
The conundrum might leave some asking what “8 Wars PLUS” is Trump referring to, exactly and why does he think he’s entitled to a Nobel Peace Prize without the actual struggle for freedom that usually accompanies such a prize? According to an article dated January 20 in USA Today by Kinsey Crowley, the breakdown of the “8 Wars PLUS” demonstrates that Trump was not responsible for ending 8 global conflicts though he may have been instrumental in encouraging leaders to sign peace agreements. It must be emphasized that peace agreements mean peace not war, but the conflicts referred to in Crowley’s article in many cases, haven’t ended as she pointed out. Meanwhile, Trump’s sudden threat to impose 10% tariffs on February 1 on eight European countries opposing a U.S. takeover of Greenland then raise it to 25% tariffs on June 1 if a deal isn’t worked out, is simply showing poor gamesmanship and a lack of finesse with how the global political system works. Those nations condemned Trump’s threat, warning of the impact to transatlantic relations which Trump seems oblivious to.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the head of the European Council Antonio Costa said in a joint statement: “Europe will remain united, coordinated and committed to upholding its sovereignty.” As von der Leyen added: “Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” while the European Union’s top foreign policy official Kaja Kallas said: “We have no interest to pick a fight, but we will hold our ground.” Kallas said that Europe has a number of tools it can use to counteract Trump’s tariffs that include activating $107.7 billion in tariffs on U.S. exports to Europe or invoking for the first time, the EU’s “anti-coercion instrument” that would impose stricter limits on trade and is colloquially known as Europe’s “trade bazooka.” The problem with this is that according to analysts, it’s the American taxpayers who will foot the bill in their purchases in such a tarfiff situation. Trump will be facing European leaders on January 21, who plan to meet with him on the sidelines of the third day at the Davos summit. They will be sharing options to negotiate on Greenland, to reduce current tensions. While the stakes are high, both sides have something to lose and something to gain if they can’t compromise.
