Donald Trump's pranks have questioned the phrase that often sounds in Europe in the last week that the US President should be taken "seriously but not literally." Trump seems to literally want Greenland. After an aggressive 45-minute conversation with Denmark Prime Minister, Matte Frederixen, he threatened with unbearable tariffs if she did not agree to sell the US autonomous territory. During this conversation, he also ridiculed the Arctic military capacity of Denmark, pointing out that they did not compare the US military capabilities in Greenland, the world's largest non -continental island.
The threat of capturing the territory of the European country by the force expressed by Trump is a signal that Europeans now know too well, given the experience with Russia. However, the shocking moment is that such a threat comes from the greatest ally of Europe - the United States. However, despite Trump's aggressive statements, Europe's reaction was extremely poorly expressed. EU leaders, such as Ursula von der Lyen and Anthony Right, remained silent. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Solz first expressed anxiety, but later joined the general silence. Why? One of the explanations is that in the conditions of global competition and climate crisis, the United States is increasingly interested in Greenland resources, especially through climate change that opens new sea routes in the Arctic. However, there is also an internal political complexity: Denmark is afraid that any sharp reaction to US territorial claims can push the Greenlanders from themselves, pushing the island to closer cooperation with the United States. In response, Copenhagen urges Europe to be careful. The tactics of silence look thoughtful: European leaders seek not to induce tension with Trump, allowing the scenes to soften the situation. At the same time, Europe cannot ignore US security and support issues, especially given the situation in Ukraine.
But there is another reason for the silence of Europe - emotions. Europeans are afraid of Trump, and this fear paralyzes their actions. Trump, like a bully, feels this fear and tries to strengthen him to achieve even greater concessions. However, Europeans do not feel enough to act decisively. They cling to the illusion that this conflict will subside over time, and that the threat from the US will only remain a temporary storm. This thinking complicates the necessary renewal of Europe, because lack of anxiety leads to self -esteem. European leaders believe that Greenland issues are just another crisis that can be experienced without changing any significant strategy.
At the same time, the silence of Europe can be expensive. A weak reaction to US aggressive actions can undermine European political solidarity and lead to long -term negative consequences. If Europe is unable to escape from this nap, there are serious doubts whether it is able to cope with the challenges facing the continent.
