Trump taking over Greenland?

I completely agree that Trump doesn't give a shit about the wishes of the Chagossians anymore than he cares about the wishes of the Greenlanders.

But the core point is that the only people who should have a say in the status of Greenland should be the Greenlanders (not the US and not Denmark) and the only people who should have a say in the status of the Chagos Islands is the Chagossians (not the UK and not Mauritius).

Trump did fully back the Chagos deal just 6 months ago, said it was an inspired deal.

So why the change?

To take the heat off him and Greenland plus to "punish" Starmer for daring to challenge him on Greenland.

Listening to Sky's security/military expert on this, he said "the deal gives the UK and the US the legal basis to challenge any hostile actions by China/Russia"

All the criticism strikes me as similar to the Chinese Embassy stuff, the Tories sold China the building AND gave outline permission for a new Embassy but now its suddenly a threat to national security.....

He’s not saying it to champion rights of people in the Chagos Islands though, is he. I doubt he even knows if they’re inhabited aside from the US military base. He’s also clearly forgotten his previous view about the deal “I’ve got a feeling it’s going to work out very well”.

I truly believe in self determination so the only people who should get a say in the status of Greenland (as in whether it is part of Denmark or the US or independent) is the Greenlanders themselves.

But equally I believe that the only people who should get a say in the status of the Chagos Islands (part of the UK or Mauritius) should be the Chagossians.

On that basis Trump is right that the UK paying Mauritius to take them is a very bad deal. Although it is completely hypocritical of him to champion the wishes of the Chagossians but ignore the wishes of the Greenlanders!

Star Trek is a post-money economy, the USA is very very very much not.

The first thing to remember: There's no substitute for cold steel. They do not like it up 'em, they DON'T LIKE IT UP 'EM

Elbows up!

Absolutely. Yes, the US can invade Canada, but it would prompt the largest insurgency in history.

We're attending our first lesson at a shooting range next month. Can't be too prepared...

My take on this. He can probably take Canada. They have the military force to do it. They can't hold Canada. Canadians are well-armed themselves, much scarier than their nice image portrays, and have the longest (currently) undefended border in the world. There will be cross border raids everywhere. America likes to start wars (police actions) where there are no consequences for the citizens of America and the people they're murdering don't look like them.

Good luck.

Wait till he finds out Canadians won't allow this to happen.

Newfoundland. Same general area.

I never knew till about a month ago.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon | Map, History, Population, & Facts | Britannica

Edit to add. If we never knew, there is zero chance of Trump knowing :-)

They do?

Wait till he finds out France has territory in the area.

Yes this too. Confusing and unpredictable, which is why it’s such a worry for the rest of us.

Polls are suggesting the foreign expansion isn’t popular while the economy is flagging.

You forgot the free market, then socialist command economy part of MAGA.

And the small government then big government stuff.

The MAGA ‘ideology’ is so confusing. One minute neoliberal isolationist, the next police state/military intervention and expansion. It isn’t an ideology as such because Trump is so easily influenced by whatever he thinks suits him and his ego.

They are deploying thousands of troops to Minnesota (and to anywhere else with protests?) so will they have resources to do this and also foreign operations? I know they have a lot of resources but there must be a limit. But Trump isn’t an intelligent strategist so fuck knows what they will do which will allow Putin to then do what he likes.

1. Low chance anyone will be able to stop him from grabbing Greenland,

1. I think nato will go to war with the u.s, could start a war on 2 fronts with u.s, Russia. Nato has 2 big problems 1. The navy isn't big enough, Greenland is in a massive ocean. 2. Most of natos other big players have large land armies, thats great if Trump plans on invading mainland Europe, but useless if we dont have the ships to get them into Greenland.

1. Nothing without nato.

4.yes 100%

1. The biggest navy in Europe is the royal navy, this means if things kick off Britain will be a massive target. Doesn't help that half the fleet is in port.

For "USA interest" read "Donald J Trump's interest".... He cares nothing for his own citizens

There is that yes. But it is Trump doing that, so.....

Yup. There we have it.

Taiwan is the test really. And incredibly, the pub discussion now is if Trump will have the US Pacific forces help China ferry it's PLA over the Straight. Rename Taipei 101 as Trump Tower Asia. Such is the parallel universe we now live in.

There is no strategic advantage for Russia or China in owning Greenland - or, at least, nothing that wouldn't be massively outweighed by the cost of trying to invade.

The strategic advantage from Russia/China's point of view is getting NATO to tear itself apart in response to Trump's threats to invade.

Google Earth (the app, not Google Maps) is handy for this kind of thing as it'll show a proper globe view.

Id say the yanks want it for the resources, but I suspect this personal for Trump. In his first term he was ridiculed for the suggestion. Knowing how Trump goes after his critics then I wouldn't put starting a war off his to do list merely to attack a vocal critic