Have we got nothing better to think about than Greenland??

[Mranke]

I cannot believe this is dominating the national discussion.

The NHS is fucked
Thousands of undocumented people are entering our country (directly causing an increase in racist sentiment)
The UK is seen as being on a downward spiral in general

Let Denmark work it out.

Surely we have better things to be focusing on!

Sometimes that happens - the human body tends to produce similar symptoms for multiple ills.

Greenland is a big deal as it might end a peace system that has worked for Europe for 75 years, all on the whims of an absolute nutter. There's your downward spiral. Try looking beyond the end of your nose.

Greenland's part of NATO. If a foreign power invades and Article 5 is invoked, all NATO countries including the UK are treaty-bound to defend the attacked territory as they would their own territory. So if you think there's no chance of a foreign incursion any time soon, then I can see your point that it might be a distraction. But there are signs that an invasion or other foreign interference is likely in the near future, it's pretty serious.

It's even worse for the USA, though, as they're going to have to figure out how to BOTH invade AND defend against the invasion. (I'm guessing it'll be like the punitive tariffs, where everybody and nobody pays them at the same time).

Im not saying it’s not a concern.

Let Europe work it out.

Look at a world map. Greenland like it or not is in a strategic position, particularly with icemelt. In the same way as the UK blocks entry/exit to the Baltic.

An increased NATO presence in Greenland makes sense. A takeover which destroys the alliance or internal conflict weakens NATO.

Time to reread "ref storm rising" by tom clancy.

I think many of us have capcaity to worry about multiple things at the same time.

NATO is over if US invades Greenland - that something that will massively affect defence and defence sepending in this country. Also affect international relationships - also looks like it will be another thing affecting trade with US - and frankly another thing that could hasten US financial crash with their insane debt levels- their treasury bonds could be dumped in reponse - which like last depression will have world wide impact.

I fear for your level of understanding if geopolitics if you cannot see how absolutely worrying this is.
It breaks all treaties and conventions and means the most powerful country on earth. The one who spent the last eighty years helping keep world order has decided they can do whatever they want. After this what is to stop China or Russia or India to follow suit.
Also this would be the first time in its existence that a NATO country attacks another NATO country. Thats is terrifying.

Maybe we should offer the UK up instead of Greenland? Then we could have the wonderful free faster health system the US has.

Kill 2 birds with one stone and all that.

Do you think things that happen in Europe don't affect us? We may have left the EU but we are a European country and the things that happen there directly impact on us

I think it’s really important for what we should be spending on the medium term.

In the last 70 years we’ve relied on the US for our safety. That is changing - Greenland is evidence of US self interest. I think it’s a reason we need to invest in our own defence system. We can’t reply on US to do the right thing for us any more.

War in other parts of the world affects us, the Ukraine war affected energy prices and put up prices massively.

All of this shows what we need to spend money on in this country- like defence of internal energy sources. This is probably going to need tax increases as much as for the nhs.

I can’t believe you actually posted this OP. Surely you cannot be this clueless.

I’m interested in how the US government deny climate change but also acknowledge it exists via trying to get their grubby mitts on someone else’s country which is being affected by climate change.

I think all of those things will pale into insignificance when we have a World War on our hands.

Everything that happens in America has a consequence for us.

I'm sure lots of people thought Archduke Ferdinands assassination was nothing to do with them in the UK.

This could change the world. It’s incredibly important

Im hoping you are a reform type shill

Otherwise, you are awfully naive. Upending peace will affect everything.

At a basic level, just for starters everything will get more expensive, medicines will be more expensive....

Everything will be worse.

OMG the UK is part of Europe!

Oh dear.

American forces invading another country on false pretences should be a worldwide concern .

Well, just when you thought that "shallowness" couldn't be redefined...

I spent an afternoon a week last term teaching WW2 to a primary school class. We began with why it happened. The children understood that standing back and letting Hitler take over the Sudetenland was instrumental in him realising he could do what the fuck he wanted and led to the worst conflict the world had ever seen.

They also understood that it was finally ended - some time after VE day - via the first and only deployment of nuclear weapons.

The UK cannot stand back and say that this is "nothing to do with us" as you suggest. That's what we did in 1938.

We're going to be affected as well Europe as I assume you mean the EU rather than the continent.

We are part of NATO - and that will be gone if he invadesand it's a huge part of our defence stratergy.

TBH I think this attutude is why amercian has so many problems a population that doesn't bother looking or thinking beyond it's own boarders - so is taken aback when entirely predicatable reponses from other countries happen rather than them passively taking what ever US wants to dish out.

So may US citizens of them were utterly dimissive about Canadian's being upset about 51 state stuff but the affect on candian travel and trade hitting US pocket books and suddenly they start to care.

We are Europe!!

Maybe not economically so much any more but geographically.

seriously - get a map and a history
book out.

Today I'm thinking of Greenland, Venezuela and Iran.
I'm also thinking about the reported lack of trust between employers/employees.
And most importantly, the declining mental health of a family member.
It's possible to think of several very important and impactful things at the same time.

Let Europe work it out.

The UK is nearer to Greenland than most of Continental Europe is.

Let Trump walk into Greenland

Like we let Hitler walk into Poland

Oh! Wait.....

@Mranke ..... you have a few screws loose. I'd get them tightened. Or something 🤡

if we lose the US from nato Putin will be rubbing his hands with glee

To be fair, if the USA loses Canada and 30 or so European countries from NATO, that could seriously affect their balance of power against Russia as well.

I completely agree that people who say "It's just an enormous cold island with hardly anybody living there, so why does it really matter?" are in the same league as the 'She divorced me because of a coffee cup I left in the sink' crowd - except on a global scale.