Fyodor Lukyanov: The Greenland ultimatum exposes NATO’s real problem

January 19, 2026

TL;DR

Trump has issued an ultimatum to European countries to accept the sale of Greenland or face trade tariffs.
Motivations for the Greenland offer include Trump's vanity, the strategic value of the Arctic (minerals, military, logistics), and a desire for direct control.
The move aligns with Trump's interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, aiming to keep European powers out of the Western Hemisphere.
This raises questions about the future of NATO, a key institution since the mid-20th century.
While NATO's collapse is not imminent, the "Trumpian" position challenges its necessity, and Europe lacks the capacity for an immediate independent military-political bloc.
NATO is likely to endure due to institutional inertia, but its future relevance in a changed world is questioned.

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