US President Donald Trump's apparently coercive threat to force Western allies not to oppose his proposed annexation of Greenland, or face further damage to their trade with the US, is without both parallel and precedent. We've had some unusual and unexpected economic threats from President Trump over the past year, but this one exceeds all of them, taking us into both surreal and utterly dangerous territory.

If taken at face value, it amounts to an economic war being levied by the White House on its closest allies. This targets allies at incredibly short notice and could jeopardize NATO and the Western alliance. Such a threat seems unimaginable, and many global leaders will likely be more baffled than angry.

As seen with Canada, whose trade with the US has slumped, Prime Minister Mark Carney has pursued a strategy that has seen trade with other nations surge by 14%. This context is crucial, especially as nations consider how to respond to Trump’s unprecedented threats. Autonomously coerced diplomacy poses a deep concern, revealing vulnerabilities in international relations. Many may question the motives and decision-making processes within the US following Trump's announcements.

As leaders approach the upcoming World Economic Forum, they can only hope for the disappearance of this peculiar and alarming threat.