Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 7
As I mentioned in the other discussion, Trump's "agreement" on Greenland was made with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. There's no indication that Greenland, Denmark, the EU, or any governmental body agreed to anything. Just NATO. Which has me more than a little puzzled, because I can't think of anything that NATO can actually give to the U.S. in Greenland that would be valuable to the U.S. I mean, forget the related question of whether there's anything that Rutte wouldn't have given Trump on being asked at any time - just, what can NATO provide to the U.S. in Greenland? A couple of options:
1) There is something substantial that Rutte can agree to provide on behalf of NATO, and it just hasn't been discussed in the media coverage yet. I'm not a military studies guy. Anyone out there have any ideas on what it could be? Is there some grant of authority or power that NATO has previously withheld to the U.S. in Greenland that they can now reverse course and give to us? This would be the best possible scenario, but I'm worried that it's also the least likely.
2) There's nothing substantial in the "concept of a deal," and Trump is just using it as a fig leaf to climb back down from his Greenland posturing. Claim a win and go home, rather than accept that he didn't get anything. I think this is the most likely - but it's a bad outcome. If Trump didn't actually get anything worthwhile, whatever's been motivating him to insist on acquiring Greenland (instead of just using our existing military base, the two additional military bases we have a right to establish, the treaty-granted right to use all Danish military bases, and the "pushing on an open door" choice to just ask to have more) will still be unsatisfied. So the conflict over Greenland gets delayed, but not abated.
3) Rutte agreed to something substantial that he had no right to agree to. This is, for obvious reasons, the worst of all possible outcomes. I'd be surprised if Rutte was dumb enough to do this - he seems quite a competent fellow. But if that's what happened, it's really bad news and will make matters much worse going forward.
Since this has the potential to vastly degrade global security and U.S. security, I'm quite worried about the remote chance of #3 being true - and I'd really like to know whether it's #1 or #2. Dope, you seem to pay attention to military matters a bit (more than I do) - any thoughts on what might be in basket #1?
No. of Recommendations: 0
when not the case for direct grift, the 90% rule is in play.
90% of the time, nations\leaders now supplement the taco with empanada
[everbody makes promises and nobody does anything]
given the combination of vague promises, and trump's attention span and follow-up diligence, the outcome ends up relying on trump's random emotional state no matter what.
i believe some trade deals that had to venture into future numbers were done on the basis of exceeding needs and\or the capacity to pay or balance. working fine so far.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Trump's "agreement" on Greenland was made with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. There's no indication that Greenland, Denmark, the EU, or any governmental body agreed to anything. Just NATO.
Does anyone actually believe that trump is done with Greenland as an acquisition? This is one of his, maybe the primary of his, legacies as he sees it. That he can claim an expansion of US territory on the map is his grandiose goal. He looks at a map and sees an equivalency to the Louisiana Purchase, maybe the "greatest US expansion of all time."
Pete
No. of Recommendations: 1
It was a perfect conversation, a perfect agreement. With tears in his eyes, Rutte said no other leader could have made as perfect an agreement.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Trump did get something very important from the other countries in NATO w/r/t Greenland.
He got them to PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
And in the future they will have no choice but to pony up a lot more money and other resources to strengthen NATO's defenses situation there.
No. of Recommendations: 1
