Let's talk about Trump claiming victory over Greenland.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Trump claiming victory in Greenland.

Trump backed off his give me Greenland or else I'll impose tariffs/end NATO/maybe engage in military action position. It started with a post in which he said, “based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the secretary general of NATO Mark Rutte we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and in fact the entire Arctic region. This solution if consummated will be a great one for the United States of America and all NATO nations. Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st. Additional discussions are being held concerning the Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland. Further information will be made available as discussions progress. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and various others as needed will be responsible for the negotiations. They will report directly to me. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Framework of a future deal. How very concepts of a planish. Okay, there are some huge signs here that this is absolutely nothing but rhetoric to make his base feel better about an absolutely humiliating pullback. Let's start with the obvious. The NATO chief can't negotiate sovereignty for Greenland or Denmark, much less the entire Arctic region. That's simply not a thing.

When Trump was asked about whether Greenland would be part of the US, he said, "It is the ultimate long-term deal. It's an infinite deal. It is a deal forever." So, the answer is no. Greenland didn't become part of the US one way or another. To the contrary, NATO Secretary General said the question of who would control Greenland, “did not come up.”

In fact, the word is the whole framework of a future deal thing centers on updating the 1951 Greenland defense agreement. In other words, there's no change to the sovereignty of Greenland. That defense agreement is what governs US bases on Greenland and it grants us a frankly ridiculous amount of leeway when it comes to US military activity, already. Changes to that will most likely just be updates to allow more bases and probably some special Trumpian language about his Golden Dome project. These are all things the US could have obtained by simply asking and not threatening our allies.

The only reason the rest of NATO would be willing to go along with it now is because they're hoping that after this ruinous escapade with another Trump term, we'll realize the error of our ways. That is such a deliciously European belief. When I lived there, I always loved how optimistic you are.

Here are the questions for the Trump supporters who might be getting ready to believe his framing when we finally see the concepts of a framework of a deal. Is Greenland part of the US? Was the banging of the war drums with NATO worth it? And most importantly, is there anything in whatever deal finally emerges that Denmark had previously said no to? Remember, they've been more than willing to have more US presence there since before he started driving us toward war with our closest allies.

Anyway, it's just a thought. You all have a good day.