DOnald Trump’s attitude over the past week was often paid to listen to the president, “seriously, not literally,” in Europe. Trump literally wanted Greenland. He doubled the aggressive rhetoric with a fierce 45 -minute phone call with Denmark Prime Minister Methte Frederiksen and threatened inconvenienced tariffs unless he agreed to sell autonomy territory to the United States. I did it. In response to the rapid increase in the Arctic military spending, including ships and drones, he RID the defense of the dog’s “dog’s brother” in Copenhagen, Greenland, the world’s largest non -dominant island. There, there.
The threat of forcibly taking over European territory is what Europeans now know well. Russia has repeatedly threatened East Europe, invading Georgia in 2008, and has undergone these threats by invading Ukraine since 2014. However, many Europeans have been gob -smacked for such threats from the biggest ally.
Nevertheless, the reaction is muted. The European Commission’s Ursla von del Rayen and the European Council Chairman Antonio Costa did not say anything, but the French president, Emmanuel Macron and German prime minister, Oraf Cholt. I joined the silence. 。 what happened?
There are some reasonable explanations. Washington’s appetite for Greenland, which has a wealth of resources, is increasing, contrary to the competition of the great power and the climate crisis in the Arctic Circle. At the same time, the relationship between Copenhagen and Nuk (the capital of Greenland) is complicated, and the latter is currently seeking independence. The recent surveys published in Greenland’s newspaper SermitSIAQ and Denmark’s BerlingSke show that 85 % of Greenlanders do not want to participate in the United States, but Denmark has reacted to Trump’s territorial design. I am afraid that if you raise your voice too much, you may be alienated and pushed the green lander. The island is further into the US track. Tred is just a password from Copenhagen to European partners.
And European leaders pay attention to the phone. It seems that both the public silence and the background work are adjusted, and Frederiksen has met Norway, Sweden, Finnish leaders, as well as Germany, France and NATO’s secretary -general, Mark Latte. The cooperation between the EU and Greenland has intensified on issues such as energy and important raw materials. Therefore, the explanation before the silence of Europe in Greenland is a tactic that is intentionally adjusted to not nurture a beast of escalation crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and the staff quietly relieves and relieves the threats. Give it.
Similarly, it is reasonable, but not much enlightenment, but Europeans have fish fried with Washington. They need to make sure that Trump starts from Ukraine and continue to engage in European military security issues, and wants to remain the US President to unravel the trade war. Therefore, the silence of Europe in Greenland is also a matter of priority. The last thing that Europeans want is to host a man to draw a NATO plug. Greenland will not be worth making a fuss too much in the Northern European country, which is the most damaged by us from Ukraine, and the Western European and Southern European countries, which are the most exposed to the Atlantic crossing war.
However, these reasonable explanations have only been so far. Do not consider the potentially high costs of a non -proportion, such as impairing the concept of political solidarity in Europe.
Instead of reason, it may be worth thinking about emotions. The two contrasting things are mutually enhanced. Europeans are scary. They are afraid that Trump and their fears are paralyzed. It freezes their actions and keeps the rhetoric quiet. The more Trump confirms their fears through his repeated threats, the less likely they are to react. Trump probably smells of fear, and all the bully enjoys it and raises the anti.
However, Europeans also feel paradoxically worried. They stick to the conviction that the storm will pass. Waiting leads to silence. This hopes that Trump’s threat to Europe will be depleted or inevitably his attention will change into another place. Insufficient anxiety means lacking adrenaline in Europe.
In other words, in the face of another serious crisis, Europe has just decided to be confused through the combination of reason and fear. However, convincing yourself that everything is okay will prevent the continent from rapid updates that need to be terrible. An important problem is approaching for a week from Trump’s presidential position. What is the case if the US President is threatening the EU member, or if he doesn’t shake Europe from a satisfying sleep?
Nathalie TOCCI is a director of Rome’s Istituto Affari Internazionali, Professor of the European University Research Institute, Florence and European futures Fellows, Vienna and European Research Institute.
