By Donald Heflin
Make Denmark angry. Make Norway angry. Make NATO’s leaders angry.
President Donald Trump’s relentless and escalating drive to acquire Greenland from Denmark, whose government – along with that of Greenland – emphatically rejects the idea, has unnerved, offended and outraged leaders of countries considered allies for decades.
It’s the latest, and perhaps most significant, eruption of an attitude of disdain towards allies that has become a hallmark of the second Trump administration, which has espoused an America First approach to the world.
Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have all said a lot of things about longtime allies that have caused frustration and outright friction among the leaders of those countries. The latest discord over Greenland could affect the functioning and even existence of NATO, the post-World War II alliance of Western nations that “won the Cold War and led the globe,” as a recent Wall Street Journal story put it.
As a former diplomat, I’m aware that how the U.S. treats its allies has been a crucial question in every presidency, since George Washington became the country’s first chief executive. On his way out of that job, Washington said something that Trump, Vance and their fellow America First advocates would probably embrace.
In what’s known as his “Farewell Address,” Washington warned Americans against “entangling alliances.” Washington wanted America to treat all nations fairly, and warned against both permanent friendships and permanent enemies.
The irony is that Washington would never have become president without the assistance of the not-yet-United-States’ first ally, France.
In 1778, after two years of brilliant diplomacy by Benjamin Franklin, the not-yet-United States and the Kingdom of France signed a treaty of alliance as the American Colonies struggled to win their war for independence from Britain.
France sent soldiers, money and ships to the American revolutionaries. Within three years, after a major intervention by the French fleet, the battle of Yorktown in 1781 effectively ended the war and America was independent.
Isolationism, then war
American political leaders largely heeded Washington’s warning against alliances throughout the 1800s. The Atlantic Ocean shielded the young nation from Europe’s problems and many conflicts; America’s closest neighbors had smaller populations and less military might.
Aside from the War of 1812, in which the U.S. fought the British, America largely found itself protected from the outside world’s problems.
That began to change when Europe descended into the brutality of World War I.
Initially, American politicians avoided involvement. What would today be called an isolationist movement was strong; its supporters felt that the European war was being waged for the benefit of big business.
But it was hard for the U.S.to maintain neutrality. German submarines sank ships crossing the Atlantic carrying American passengers. The economies of some of America’s biggest trading partners were in shreds; the democracies of Britain, France and other European countries were at risk.
Serial and Government Publications Division, Library of Congress
President Woodrow Wilson led the U.S. into the war in 1917 as an ally of the Western European nations. When he asked Congress for a declaration of war, Wilson asserted the value of like-minded allies: “A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by a partnership of democratic nations.”
Immediately after the war, the Allies – led by the U.S., France and Britain – stayed together to craft the peace agreements, feed the war-ravaged parts of Europe and intervene in Russia after the Communist Revolution there.
Prosperity came along with the peace, helping the U.S. quickly develop into a global economic power.
However, within a few years, American politicians returned to traditional isolationism in political and military matters and continued this attitude well into the 1930s. The worldwide Great Depression that began in 1929 was blamed on vulnerabilities in the global economy, and there was a strong sentiment among Americans that the U.S. should fix its internal problems rather than assist Europe with its problems.
Alliance counters fascism
As both Hitler and Japan began to attack their neighbors in the late 1930s, it became clear to President Franklin Roosevelt and other American military and political leaders that the U.S. would get caught up in World War II. If nothing else, airplanes had erased America’s ability to hide behind the Atlantic Ocean.
Though public opinion was divided, the U.S. began sending arms and other assistance to Britain and quietly began military planning with London. This was despite the fact that the U.S. was formally neutral, as the Roosevelt administration was pushing the limits of what a neutral nation can do for friendly nations without becoming a warring party.
In January of 1941, Roosevelt gave his annual State of the Union speech to Congress. He appeared to prepare the country for possible intervention – both on behalf of allies abroad and for the preservation of American democracy:
“The future and the safety of our country and of our democracy are overwhelmingly involved in events far beyond our borders. Armed defense of democratic existence is now being gallantly waged in four continents. If that defense fails, all the population and all the resources of Europe, and Asia, and Africa and Australasia will be dominated by conquerors. In times like these it is immature – and incidentally, untrue – for anybody to brag that an unprepared America, single-handed, and with one hand tied behind its back, can hold off the whole world.”
When the Japanese attacked Hawaii in 1941 and Hitler declared war on the U.S., America quickly entered World War II in an alliance with Britain, the Free French and others.
Throughout the war, the Allies worked together on matters large and small. They defeated Germany in three and half years and Japan in less than four.
As World War II ended, the wartime alliance produced two longer-term partnerships built on the understanding that working together had produced a powerful and effective counter to fascism.
Foreign Policy In Focus
Postwar alliances
The first of these alliances is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. The original members were the U.S., Canada, Britain, France and others of the wartime Allies. There are now 32 members, including Poland, Hungary and Turkey.
The aims of NATO were to keep peace in Europe and contain the growing Communist threat from the Soviet Union. NATO’s supporters feel that, given that wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and in the Ukraine today are the only major conflicts in Europe in 80 years, the alliance has met its goals well. And NATO troops went to Afghanistan along with the U.S. military after 9/11.
The other institution created by the wartime Allies is the United Nations.
The U.N. is many things – a humanitarian aid organization, a forum for countries to raise their issues and a source of international law.
However, it is also an alliance. The U.N. Security Council on several occasions authorized the use of force by members, such as in the first Gulf War against Iraq. And it has the power to send peacekeeping troops to conflict areas under the U.N. flag.
Other U.S. allies with treaties or designations by Congress include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, three South American countries and six in the Middle East.
Many of the same countries also created institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States and the European Union. The U.S. belongs to all of these except the European Union. During my 35-year diplomatic career, I worked with all of these institutions, particularly in efforts to stabilize Africa. They keep the peace and support development efforts with loans and grants.
Admirers of this postwar liberal international order point to the limited number of major armed conflicts during the past 80 years, the globalized economy and international cooperation on important matters such as disease control and fighting terrorism.
Detractors point to this system’s inability to stop some very deadly conflicts, such as Vietnam or Ukraine, and the large populations that haven’t done well under globalization as evidence of its flaws.
The world would look dramatically different without the Allies’ victories in the two World Wars, the stable worldwide economic system and NATO’s and the U.N.’s keeping the world relatively peaceful.
But the value of allies to Americans, even when they benefit from alliances, appears to have shifted between George Washington’s attitude – avoid them – and that of Franklin D. Roosevelt – go all in … eventually.
Donald Heflin is Executive Director of the Edward R. Murrow Center and Senior Fellow of Diplomatic Practice at The Fletcher School, Tufts University.
Bo Peep says
You guys are so funny …
NJ says
This article just showed WHY America owning Greenland is Very Important for our National Security because we are in a Deadly Cold War with China (which China started when it started destroying Coral Reefs in the South China Sea to Island Military Bases)! Before America entered WWII, FDR started building up America’s Military Force ( including the Fleet Submarine, the Grant/Sherman Tank, and the B-17, B-24, & B-29 Bombers )! America supports NATO but will NATO support America?
PaulT says
Congratulations NJ, your heavily capitalized post is a brilliant Donald Trump impersonation.
thank you for your attention on this matter
NJ says
Trump has nothing to do with my post!!! Wake Up and learn how China has started a New Cold War ( also Supporting Russia with their invasion of Ukraine). China is building the Largest Navy in the World ( including Ice Breakers)!! WHY??? Stop watching “China News” on MSNOW and PBS!
Skibum says
Here’s a little history lesson for you, NJ. Since the inception of NATO, there has only been ONE single time that NATO members convened and implemented Article 5 to activate their separate countries’ military forces in defense of another country. Obviously, you seem to be unaware that this happened on Sept. 12, 2001 right after the terrorist attacks on the U.S., when Article 5 of the NATO alliance prompted those European nations to send their nations’ soldiers and military might to Afghanistan right along with our U.S. military to defeat the Al Qaida terrorist group.
Now, do you still believe the convicted felon’s lies that NATO has never done anything for the U.S.?????
Do you still fail to comprehend basic reality and facts that because Greenland is a NATO nation, owned by Denmark, another NATO nation, that the entirety of NATO protects the country of Greenland? If Russia or China were so stupid as to try to attack Greenland, it would be as if they attacked Poland, or Germany, or France, or Norway, or Canada or America. All NATO nations are combined in the agreement to protect one another, which is exactly why Putin is trying so hard to expand Russia’s economic and military power in Eastern Europe by only invading the countries that do NOT have NATO alliance protection! And why Putin has been so upset about Ukraine wanting to join NATO, because that would put an immediate stop to his expansion plans, knowing all of the remainder of Europe plus the U.S. would completely overwhelm and destroy the Russian military, or what’s left of it, if he tried such a suicidal move.
NATO is our friend. We are supposed to be a friend to NATO, not an enemy like the convicted felon, Putin apologist in the WH wants Americans to believe. You would do yourself a huge favor by turning fauxinfotainment nuze off and stop taking every ridiculous utterance and lie that comes out of the convicted felon’s pie hole as gospel!!!
Kennan says
Thank you thank you thank you Skibum!!!!!
TrumpHole says
But I watched the NATO chief just yesterday say that Trump was correct! Looks like NATO will back some sort of agreement!
I believe the rest will come around when they see the common sense in it all.
Sherry says
OK. . . Here’s the thing. . . while Maga Lord and Master trump says “Climate Change” is a Democratic HOAX, he’s de3manding to acquire, “by hook or by crook”, Greenland! Why?
Because he knows that “Hoax” climate change is quickly melting the glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland, making their valuable minerals accessible.
He is using FEAR tactics to get his Maga tribe to go along with him. This “Imperialistic” strategy is straight out of fascist “Project 2025”! You know, the playbook trump “LIED” about when he claimed over and over that he knew nothing/very little about Project 2025!
trump’s LIES about climate change and Project 2025 have Maga completely duped! Therefore, here we are. . . about to upend NATO and make our European allies into enemies! Meanwhile prices are going up, jobs going down , trump’s “gestapo” reeking unlawful chos in our streets, and the US is the pariah of the world.
How’s that working for ya Maga?
Ray W. says
Hello Sherry.
According to a story published by The Hill, Greenlandic protesters have taken to wearing red baseball caps with Make America Go Away emblazoned on them.
Ed P says
Let’s ask Kamala about climate change, once she gets settled into her new Malibu beach digs.
Or, let’s ask the Obamas, if you can find them at one of their 3 beach homes.
And of course check in with the Bidens at their at their Rehoboth beach home.
Climate change is a concern, but not the existential hoax that was forced upon so many “believers”
Even Bill Gates has said so much.
PaulT says
Fortunately someone pointed out to President Trump that his pugilistic Greenland antics were likely to tank the markets and impact the economy. So at the Davos trade talks he did a grumpy 180. said he had no intention of invading this self governing NATO territory and wouldn’t in fact be imposing extra Greenland related punitive tariffs on European countries.
But he did claim a major victory over tes absence of a deal (because he has ‘the framework of a possible future agreement).
So we can relax for a bit as we wonder what his next Epstein File distraction will be and brace ourselves ready for his next tantrum.
Ray W. says
In one episode of Long Way Home, released in 2025, two motorcyclists travel by air to Svalbard, a set of islands located far to the north of Norway.
Upon consulting a map, anyone can see that the Svalbard Islands are closer to both the sea passages of the northeast Arctic and the coastline of northern Russia than is Greenland. The population of the Svalbard Islands is far less than Greenland’s, too. Perhaps it might cost our Treasury less to buy these islands.
Why should we settle for second best when we seek to encroach on an ally’s sovereign soil in violation of our agreements to NATO?
Of course, if it truly is in America’s diplomatic best interest to undermine the almost 80 years of comparative peace under the UN and NATO, then shouldn’t America take Iceland, Greenland and the Svalbard Islands in one fell swoop?
Skibum says
The convicted felon’s meandering, disjointed, sleepy but self-gratuitous mumbo jumbo in front of world leaders yesterday in Davos, Switzerland was an exercise in how to embarrass oneself and the nation he represents. He succeeded on both counts. It makes me wonder which administration official has the bigger brain worm… RFK Jr. or the president???
The world leaders mostly sat in shocked silence during his long, exhausting diatribe. The one good thing to come out of his trip to Davos is his latest TACO backtrack move, appearing to give up his imperialistic fantasy of owning Greenland… or maybe Iceland, because his mumbled brain seemingly went back and forth between the two countries without so much as a singe acknowledgement or correction that he was misspeaking.
It was an idiotic, academy-award drool for the ages.
Pogo says
@The facist crackpot trolls that call Trump’s diaper home
… conveniently overlook the fact observed by the entire planet – Putin’s bitch has brazenly spent the past 2 years, and longer: first, encouraging Putin to keep murdering Russians, Ukranians, Syrians, any living thing in his path — until Trump returned to power; and the first year of his second term has been the disgraceful and murderous prolonging of Putin’s war on the people, and all other life too, of Ukraine — while Trump, Vance, and the gang work with all their might to force the Ukranian people to surrender.
The useful idiots that carry water for Trump ignore the fact that Trump himself, recently, endorsed the importation of China’s EVs; Trump’s ransaking of American farmers and ranchers, and moreover, withdrawal from any cooperation with our allies who laid down the lives of daughters and sons, opened their treasuries too, for many years in aAfghanistan — for us. And rest of the world.
… while China supplies its clients in Russia, North Korea, et al., with just enough tangible support, and otherwise, to doggedly endure China’s long game. Trump is a vicious old man on his last legs — digging our, and the world’s, grave.
BillC says
Forget about traveling anywhere outside the US. You will not be welcomed, will be harassed, overcharged and mistreated.
JimboXYZ says
I see no reason for Greenland to change hands. USA already has a NATO base for operations there. If we’re paying for that access, just cut a better deal that reduces, if not outright eliminates any payment for a relative military base lease ? We end up providing the NATO security for the most part in any of these military operations. Same goes for territories like Puerto Rico & Pacific Islands where there are military bases. We’re on Cuba’s soil for Guantanamo, not being evicted/expelled any time soon either. I’m sure the Castro’s don’t want us there either, but they seemed to have warmed up to the idea since we aren’t vacating Gitmo as long as the human race exists. Would take an act of war to get that accomplished ? Cuba going on the offensive would last about as long as Saddam Hussein did in Iraq & then FL could Annex it ?