2026 US-Denmark Tensions/End of NATO

[Brad Sallows]

Well...apparently the Senate isn't ruling against Trump taking more military action against Venezuela

Senate GOP shields Trump from limits to his war powers in Venezuela after Vance breaks tie​

So much for Congress reeling in the President.

They ended up at 50-50. Vance had to break a tie. The administration got to 50-50 by making some promises. "Oh, Trump's promises aren't worth anything." Sure, but the matter isn't closed. And we've learned that Paul, Collins, and Murkowski are pretty firm, which means to decline congressional authorization only needs one more senator - including either Hawley or Young, who might be a tad disaffected and disinclined to play along if the administration takes them for fools.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Germany, France Norway and Sweden reportedly to send forces to Greenaland.

Denmark to expand Greenland military presence as White House talks take place - live updates

US Vice-President JD Vance hosted ministers from Denmark and Greenland to discuss the Arctic territory's future.

www.bbc.com

Germany, France, Sweden and Norway to contribute to military presence - Denmarkpublished at 12:51​

12:51​

Some more now from the new statement issued by the Danish armed forces.

"From today, there will be an expanded military presence in and around Greenland", it says.

This will see an increase "comprising aircraft, vessels and soldiers, including from Nato allies." Further down the statement, it names some of the Nato countries that will contribute as Germany, France, Sweden and Norway.

It adds that the government of Greenland and the Danish ministry of defence will "continue to collaborate closely" on this to "ensure local involvement".

Greenland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research Vivan Motzfeldt says that it is a "core priority" that Greenland's security and defence "are strengthened, that this is achieved in close cooperation with our Nato allies."

The Danish Minister for Defence Troels Lund Poulsen says that “security in the Arctic is of crucial importance" to Denmark and, together with Arctic and European allies, the country "will explore in the coming weeks how an increased presence and exercise activity in the Arctic can be implemented in practice".

So far all I have actually seen accounted for is 13 German Recce troops. Anyone seeing anything else ?

NATO spilled a lot of its own blood to support the US in Afghanistan, and many even followed into Iraq. I don’t think I would assume away their willingness to fight when it will be in defence of themselves.

You forget that the linchpin in those two operations was the US itself, all of us relied on them to sustain and carry the lions share of the O. The truth is without the US there is no NATO.

Willingness is one thing, ability is a whole other story. Without both you have to ask and confirm if its a honorable expenditure of blood and treasure.

 

[Czech_pivo]

So far all I have actually seen accounted for is 13 German Recce troops. Anyone seeing anything else ?



You forget that the linchpin in those two operations was the US itself, all of us relied on them to sustain and carry the lions share of the O. The truth is without the US there is no NATO.

Willingness is one thing, ability is a whole other story. Without both you have to ask and confirm if its a honorable expenditure of blood and treasure.

Just those bakers dozen so far.

 

[Remius]

So far all I have actually seen accounted for is 13 German Recce troops. Anyone seeing anything else ?

I don’t even think they are recce troops. Just a reconnaissance team going assess what they might contribute or plan for a larger exercise.

You forget that the linchpin in those two operations was the US itself, all of us relied on them to sustain and carry the lions share of the O. The truth is without the US there is no NATO.

Yes. And people forget that this was their show. The Taliban never attacked or did anything to Canada or Denmark or the Dutch. Yet all those countries stepped up to help an ally regardless.

The worst part was listening to Hegsteth minimise and even mock that contribution.

no one is denying your last statement.

The US can stop being the world police (something THEY took on) but they have to accept that they won’t be as influential as they once were.

Stepping back is something, aligning with middle eastern powers and Russia and undermining the rest of the free world is a whole lot of something else though.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I don’t even think they are recce troops. Just a reconnaissance team going assess what they might contribute or plan for a larger exercise.

Yes. And people forget that this was their show. The Taliban never attacked or did anything to Canada or Denmark or the Dutch. Yet all those countries stepped up to help an ally regardless.

The worst part was listening to Hegsteth minimise and even mock that contribution.

no one is denying your last statement.

The US can stop being the world police (something THEY took on) but they have to accept that they won’t be as influential as they once were.

Stepping back is something, aligning with middle eastern powers and Russia and undermining the rest of the free world is a whole lot of something else though.

I understand this can get emotional for people, and I think if the US wants Greenland it has to do it through negotiations and in line with Greenland's wishes.

But the idea that NATO Europe could project and sustain a defensive Op in Greenland against the US is improbable at best. And is an almost guaranteed futile waste of lives and resources. In the same vein the idea that NATO could have gone in and sustained ISAF without the US simply denying reality.

Here is s list of all nationalities lost during 9/11:

Casualties by Country — Memorial Mapping: Transnational 9/11 Memorials

www.memorialmapping.com

We have relied on a method of collective defence that actually produced and massive imbalance in the alliance with the US providing approx. 70% and the other 31 countries provide the other 30%. At the same time chastising and bemoaning the Americans at every turn, Europe especially. I think a leader like Trump was bound to take power in the US, it was just a matter of when.

Not only did the US take on the role of world police but we encouraged them, in fact we were ecstatic about it it meant we (The rest of the west) didn't have to. And it allowed us to virtu signal without having to actually do anything.

The US is acting on what it perceives as its self interests. How valid that is we will see come mid-terms and the next presidential election.

 

[Remius]

I understand this can get emotional for people, and I think if the US wants Greenland it has to do it through negotiations and in line with Greenland's wishes.

The messaging from Trump doesn’t seem to be taking Greenland’s wishes into account. Time will tell.

But the idea that NATO Europe could project and sustain a defensive Op in Greenland against the US is improbable at best. And is an almost guaranteed futile waste of lives and resources. In the same vein the idea that NATO could have gone in and sustained ISAF without the US simply denying reality.

Hence my point about mass dumping US treasury bonds in the event of any aggression. Send their economy into a complete depression. Europe is actually able to do that.

Here is s list of all nationalities lost during 9/11:

Casualties by Country — Memorial Mapping: Transnational 9/11 Memorials

www.memorialmapping.com

We have relied on a method of collective defence that actually produced and massive imbalance in the alliance with the US providing approx. 70% and the other 31 countries provide the other 30%. At the same time chastising and bemoaning the Americans at every turn, Europe especially. I think a leader like Trump was bound to take power in the US, it was just a matter of when.

They set those conditions. And yes. Trump is showing what the US really is and not the other way around.

Not only did the US take on the role of world police but we encouraged them, in fact we were ecstatic about it it meant we (The rest of the west) didn't have to. And it allowed us to virtu signal without having to actually do anything.

Ecstatic is a bit exaggerated. The US took on that role after the world’s powers were drained after two world wars. It wasn’t a choice. It was an agreement to follow the new rules set by THEM. Go read about the Suez crisis.

The US is acting on what it perceives as its self interests. How valid that is we will see come mid-terms and the next presidential election.

It is upending the rules they set up and everyone followed. It’s why we need to align ourselves elsewhere. I’ve said it before, this has caused generational damage that none of us will see repaired in our lifetime. The US sun is setting. I’m not fond of what might replace it.

 

[Halifax Tar]

The messaging from Trump doesn’t seem to be taking Greenland’s wishes into account. Time will tell.

Hence my point about mass dumping US treasury bonds in the event of any aggression. Send their economy into a complete depression. Europe is actually able to do that.

They set those conditions. And yes. Trump is showing what the US really is and not the other way around.

Ecstatic is a bit exaggerated. The US took on that role after the world’s powers were drained after two world wars. It wasn’t a choice. It was an agreement to follow the new rules set by THEM. Go read about the Suez crisis.

It is upending the rules they set up and everyone followed. It’s why we need to align ourselves elsewhere. I’ve said it before, this has caused generational damage that none of us will see repaired in our lifetime. The US sun is setting. I’m not fond of what might replace it.

Where else do we align ? How do we do this ? And what if the Americans say no ? Our geographic lottery results have a big say in this...

The rules based order is pretty young, perhaps the natural order in geopolitical nature is might makes right. Its a scary thought for a country that cares little asserting its own sovereignty, position and strength.

Perhaps once Trump leaves the RBO will reestablish ?

 

[Remius]

Where else do we align ? How do we do this ? And what if the Americans say no ? Our geographic lottery results have a big say in this...

Diversify the economy further. Our interests will have to conflict with our values unfortunately. As this is in flux it is hard to see how it will evolve. Europe, Asia. I do acknowledge that the US will still loom large but that does not mean accepting everything they want. If it is in our interest we do it if not we find something else.

The rules based order is pretty young, perhaps the natural order in geopolitical nature is might makes right. Its a scary thought for a country that cares little asserting its own sovereignty, position and strength.

Fareed Zacharia covers this really well. For 80 years the US has done what no other power was able to do. Rule by consensus. Every other power has ruled by force and those powers had no friends when they inevitably waned. The current administration is undoing those 80 years and in doing so is positioning itself to be isolated and without friends eventually.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/11/world/video/fareed-take-trump-venezuela-digvid

Perhaps once Trump leaves the RBO will reestablish ?

I have my doubts. The world is realigning. Asia, Australia, Europe even Israel are all resetting and will likely continue to do so over the next 4 years. It will be very hard to go back. America has revealed itself for what it is and it’s going down a political shift it won’t likely recover from to be able to bring back the RBO it created.

 

[suffolkowner]

Where else do we align ? How do we do this ? And what if the Americans say no ? Our geographic lottery results have a big say in this...

The rules based order is pretty young, perhaps the natural order in geopolitical nature is might makes right. Its a scary thought for a country that cares little asserting its own sovereignty, position and strength.

Perhaps once Trump leaves the RBO will reestablish ?

its a scary thought for all countries that are unable to defend themselves against a Great Power
What are we going to do spend 10% of GDP on defence? Would it work? No
Thus alliances. Europe doesnt need NATO to counteract Russia anymore.
Unfortunately for us there is no one coming to save us and as you say likely the same with Greenland
Will the US be willing to kill European troops on the ground in Greenland?

 

[Halifax Tar]

its a scary thought for all countries that are unable to defend themselves against a Great Power
What are we going to do spend 10% of GDP on defence? Would it work? No
Thus alliances. Europe doesnt need NATO to counteract Russia anymore.

Countries are either sovereign country or you're not. Sovereignty demands strength.

Unfortunately for us there is no one coming to save us and as you say likely the same with Greenland
Will the US be willing to kill European troops on the ground in Greenland?

No one is coming to our aid. No one.

 

[suffolkowner]

Countries are either sovereign country or you're not. Sovereignty demands strength.



No one is coming to our aid. No one.

except theres no amount of strength we can build to resist the US.
Could we pull a Finland a la Winter War?
I doubt we could

 

[Czech_pivo]

Countries are either sovereign country or you're not. Sovereignty demands strength.



No one is coming to our aid. No one.

Thus we need to become a right nasty Honey Badger.

 

[Halifax Tar]

except theres no amount of strength we can build to resist the US.
Could we pull a Finland a la Winter War?
I doubt we could

This:

Thus we need to become a right nasty Honey Badger.

We cant and wont beat them in a stand up fight. But we can make any victory cost an unacceptable level casualties.

Learn from:

Michael Collins (Irish leader) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Czech_pivo]

This:

We cant and wont beat them in a stand up fight. But we can make any victory cost an unacceptable level casualties.

Yes - Pyrrhic victory for them.

And that is what might just keep us left alone for the most part.

Getting 12 submarines and honing that skill set sure as shit might make them a bit concerned about one of their carriers saying 'hello' to Davy Jones.

 

[ModlrMike]

I had this conversation at work the other day.

The US military would very quickly take over many of our major cities. Holding the countryside is a whole other matter. The American's relative success in fighting foreign wars of the last 60 years is primarily based in having an enemy that was fundamentally different. An insurgency conducted by a population the looks like them, sounds like them, understands them better than most, and who would be essentially invisible is not something the US has ever faced before. It could be a very costly endeavour indeed.

 

[Remius]

I had this conversation at work the other day.

The US military would very quickly take over many of our major cities. Holding the countryside is a whole other matter. The American's relative success in fighting foreign wars of the last 60 years is primarily based in having an enemy that was fundamentally different. An insurgency conducted by a population the looks like them, sounds like them, understands them better than most, and who would be essentially invisible is not something the US has ever faced before. It could be a very costly endeavour indeed.

Not to mention American sympathizers more than willing to assist and cause their own havoc and take advantage of the situation.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I had this conversation at work the other day.

The US military would very quickly take over many of our major cities. Holding the countryside is a whole other matter. The American's relative success in fighting foreign wars of the last 60 years is primarily based in having an enemy that was fundamentally different. An insurgency conducted by a population the looks like them, sounds like them, understands them better than most, and who would be essentially invisible is not something the US has ever faced before. It could be a very costly endeavour indeed.

I think the gateway to this is if we take a combative stand over Greenland.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Not to mention American sympathizers more than willing to assist and cause their own havoc and take advantage of the situation.

I can hear the 'Free Puerto Rico' chants now, lol

 

[Remius]

I think the gateway to this is if we take a combative stand over Greenland.

No. The gateway to this is the US getting combative over Greenland.

 

[Halifax Tar]

No. The gateway to this is the US getting combative over Greenland.

Fair.