What on earth has the last fortnight been all about? In the wake of a successful military operation in Venezuela earlier this month, a buoyed-up Donald Trump started to ratchet up the rhetoric on Greenland. Day after day, the world was treated to claims of ownership, threats of military action, and tariffs against traditional allies in Europe. Now, in an apparent puff of smoke, it may all have gone.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, arguably the Trump whisperer-in-chief, seems to have talked the president down from his dangerously high hobby horse.
The ground may have been laid last week during a visit to Washington by the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. The visit concluded with agreement on a working group to discuss Greenland's future. But Rutte appears to have finessed an issue that had threatened to shatter the North Atlantic alliance.
Trump said the deal would involve access to Greenland's mineral resources. Neither Denmark nor NATO has confirmed these or any other reports.
NATO discussed focusing on securing Arctic stability to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the area. However, the lingering drama and existential crisis brought on by Trump's comments won't easily be forgotten, with leaders like Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney suggesting a significant shift in the global order.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, arguably the Trump whisperer-in-chief, seems to have talked the president down from his dangerously high hobby horse.
The ground may have been laid last week during a visit to Washington by the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. The visit concluded with agreement on a working group to discuss Greenland's future. But Rutte appears to have finessed an issue that had threatened to shatter the North Atlantic alliance.
Trump said the deal would involve access to Greenland's mineral resources. Neither Denmark nor NATO has confirmed these or any other reports.
NATO discussed focusing on securing Arctic stability to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the area. However, the lingering drama and existential crisis brought on by Trump's comments won't easily be forgotten, with leaders like Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney suggesting a significant shift in the global order.
