The most ridiculous statement Trump has made recently is that NATO should ensure that Greenland becomes American. It seems this president fails to realize that he himself is the leader of NATO—and that if he gets his way, it would spell the end of the alliance.
Whatever Trump’s motives may be, the European NATO members must put a stop to his imperialism. A NATO leader like Trump is useless, so the now effectively former European allies should threaten to expel the United States from NATO.
I keep hearing the mantra that “we can’t do without America.” Nonsense. It’s a matter of will.
American troops can easily be replaced by European ones. French and British nuclear weapons can take over the nuclear role of the Americans. With the help of Ukraine’s Delta system linked to European satellite systems, we can also conduct large-scale military operations ourselves. Advanced long-range weapons can now be developed jointly with Ukraine. The EU program ReArm Europe is gaining momentum. In a few years, the most important gaps in European defense will have been closed.
If America were expelled from NATO, the damage to the U.S. global power position would be catastrophic. The Ramstein Air Base and the headquarters in Stuttgart, for example, are essential to American operations in Africa and the Middle East. From Ramstein, drones are controlled all over the world. Moreover, the withdrawal of American troops and the dismantling of bases would be unaffordable even for the Americans themselves.
If Greenland is seized and Trump continues—by, for example, setting his sights on the militarily even more relevant Norwegian Svalbard—then we must hit America economically.
The EU’s “nuclear option” is the anti-coercion instrument, which could deny America full or partial access to the European integrated market. Less damaging measures include targeted sanctions, high import tariffs on American products, travel bans for American politicians and industrial leaders, a sharp reduction in dollar transactions, “buy European” legislation, tackling U.S. tech companies through the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, and rapidly reducing dependence on American LNG. The list is endless.
Trump constantly claims that he “holds all the cards.” But in his self-overestimation, he overlooks the power of Europe—more precisely, the EU.
Provided European countries become aware of their power and are willing to use it. Militarily, steps are already being taken in response to the Russian threat. Economically, Europe can speak with one voice when it comes to trade policy—because then Brussels is in charge.
Jean-Claude Juncker, hailing from tiny Luxembourg, managed in 2018, as President of the European Commission, to put Trump back in his place when he announced tariffs on European cars.
European leaders must start speaking Juncker’s language of power. No “deals,” because for Trump that is a euphemism for capitulation. So no negotiating, but saying no to American land grabs and making it clear to Trump what price he must pay for his aggression. We ourselves will pay a high price for applying pressure, but if we give Trump his way, we will ultimately pay an even higher price.
Experts
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