Until a couple of weeks ago, I thought Europe, or at least its Nato and EU members, belonged to the Western Hemisphere, with democracy, shared values, strong transatlantic ties.

First, in the United States’ National Security Strategy of November 2025 it was made crystal clear that we, the Europeans, do not belong to “them”. What authors of the NSS (probably first and foremost White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor Stephen Miller) mean with the Western Hemisphere is the American double continent including Greenland (although Greenland was strikingly missing on the above historical map of the American double continent which was used in Pete Hegseth’s new National Defense Strategy, see below).

So, I learned that we, the Europeans, belong to a different sphere of influence, Eurasia, which is currently dominated by Putin’s Russia.

I doubt whether many ordinary people in Germany, even its politicians, have fully understood that transatlantic trust is, from now on, an illusion. Europe is not an ally, it’s at most a vassal. At least an unwelcome competitor economically. Tedious when it comes to this Russian province, Ukraine. As Victoria Nuland, then U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, put it already in 2014, Fuck the EU!

The Western Hemisphere is mentioned 24 times in the NSS. Greenland is not mentioned.

There was considerable turmoil after Donald Trump’s rambling speech at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 21, when it did not become so clear what he actually demanded from Denmark and Greenland. When stock markets tumbled and Europeans grew at least a backbone (despite flattering by Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, the Trump whisperer) and showed Trump some of their torture instruments (the Football World Cup, retaliatory tariffs on what the Americans want to export, i.e. whisky, Harley Davidson bikes, Lucky Strikes; but also pharmaceuticals, fossil fuels, chemicals etc.), he seemingly paddled back. But still it is unclear what that actually means for Greenland.

In the new US National Defense Strategy , probably written by Secretary of Defence War (pending approval of Congress), Pete Hegseth, and published during the weekend, The Western Hemisphere is mentioned 21 times, and Greenland 5 times. On page 3, it is mentioned that,

“[We] will actively and fearlessly defend America’s interest throughout the Western Hemisphere. We will guarantee U.S. military and commercial access to key terrain, especially the Panama Canal, Gulf of America, and Greenland. …

“We will engage in good faith with our neighbors, from Canada to our partners in Central and South America, but we will ensure that they respect and do their part to defend our shared interests. And where they do not, we will stand ready to take focused, decisive action that concretely advances U.S. interests. This is the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, and America’s military stands ready to enforce it with speed, power, and precision, as the world saw in operation ABSOLUTE RESOLVE.“ (Emphasis added.)

The abduction of Maduro, in violation of international law. The Trump Corollary of the Monroe Doctrine.

As regards sharing the burden with U.S.-allies and partners, see, e.g. this.

“In Europe and other theaters[sic], allies will take the lead against threats that are less severe for us but more so for them, with critical but more limited support from the United States.”

That’s, of course, Europe’s responsibility of taking care of the brutal war Russia has imposed onf the Ukraine.

Nine times peace through strength is mentioned in the NDS as President Trump’s most important direction for the DoW.

It’s becoming clearer now why Donald Trumps is so obsessed with Canada becoming the U.S.’ 51st State, and why Greenland needs to be annexed.

“Western Hemisphere. Canada and Mexico have strong roles in hemispheric defense, including by working with DoW and other U.S. agencies to prevent illegal aliens and narco-terrorists from reaching America’s borders. Canada also has a vital role to play in helping to defend North America against other threats, including by strengthening defenses against air, missile, and undersea threats.

…

And why Europe must be considered a vassal.

“Europe. … Central to this effort, DoW will work closely with our allies to ensure that they deliver on the defense spending pledge that they made at the Hague Summit. We will also seek to leverage NATO processes in support of these goals, while also working to expand transatlantic defense industrial cooperation and reduce defense trade barriers in order to maximize our collective ability to produce forces required to achieve U.S. and allied defense objectives. Finally, we will be clear with our European allies that their efforts and resources are best focused on Europe. This is for the simple reason that it is in Europe where they can—and must—make the greatest difference for our collective defense.

Hegseth starts the NDS’ conclusion with a remarkable sentence. “Taking our nation from the precipice of a world war just a year ago, President Trump is now leading our nation into a new golden age.” A bombastic claim. Saving the World from Third World War, just a year ago. (Probably by berating and humiliating the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House in front of the world for having “no cards” in Ukraine’s defense against a brutal rapist Russian army.)

“[A golden age] defined by putting Americans first in a commonsense, pragmatic, and concrete way. No longer will we squander Americans’ will, resources, and even lives in foolish and grandiose adventures abroad. But we will not retreat. Rather, we will unabashedly prioritize Americans’ concrete interests with an approach of flexible realism. We will restore the warrior ethos. We will refocus the American military on its core, irreplaceable goal of winning the nation’s wars decisively.

“In doing so—as President Trump has so memorably emphasized—our purpose will not be aggression or perpetual war. Rather, our goal is peace. Peace is the highest good. But not a peace that sacrifices our people’s security, freedoms, and prosperity. Rather, a peace that Americans deserve—a noble and proud peace. Fortunately, this peace is compatible with the interests of our potential opponents, if they keep their demands reasonable and cabined. We do not demand their humiliation or submission. Rather, we demand only that they respect our reasonably conceived interests and those of our allies and partners who stand stoutly with us. If we all can acknowledge this, we can achieve a flexible and sustainable balance of power among us, and peace.

“But we at the Department of War will be ready if our gracious offer is spurned. We know that wishing for a decent peace is not the same thing as bringing it about. Thus, if our potential opponents are unwise enough to reject our peaceful overtures and choose conflict instead, America’s armed forces will stand ready to fight and win the nation’s wars in ways that make sense for Americans. To ensure that is the case, this Strategy will ensure that we see things and the choices we need to make clearly. We will prioritize addressing the most consequential and grave threats to Americans’ interests. We will revamp our network of allies and partners to meet the threats we face. And we will be ready, always carrying the sharpest and most formidable sword but prepared to offer the olive branch.”

The olive branch.

26 January 2026 @ 1:45 pm.

Last modified January 26, 2026.