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That statement cuts straight to the heart of the issue. European governments publicly demand that the United States bankroll Ukraine’s defense against Moscow. At the same time, they continue buying Russian energy, pumping billions into the Kremlin’s war machine. In effect, Europe is funding both sides of the conflict while scolding America for not doing enough.
Bessent drove the point home by laying out the inevitable consequences of this hypocrisy. “If there were an attack on Greenland from Russia or from some other area, we would get dragged in,” he warned. Europe’s weakness doesn’t stay contained—it becomes America’s problem.
Greenland Is Not a New Idea
Critics have tried to portray Trump’s interest in Greenland as impulsive or bizarre. History tells a very different story. For more than a century, American leaders have recognized Greenland’s strategic importance.
After purchasing Alaska from Russia in 1867, Secretary of State William Seward immediately turned his attention toward Greenland. Nearly eight decades later, President Harry Truman quietly offered Denmark $100 million in gold for the island in 1946. That proposal remained classified for 45 years.
Bessent reminded viewers that the United States expanded through foresight and negotiation, not endless wars. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the nation’s size for $15 million. Alaska cost just $7.2 million—mocked at the time as “Seward’s Folly” until its vast resources and strategic value became undeniable.
Today, Alaska’s Arctic position is a cornerstone of U.S. defense. Greenland, even larger than Louisiana, could be the most significant territorial acquisition in American history. Trump isn’t thinking about the next election cycle. He’s looking ahead to an emerging Arctic power struggle involving Russia and China.
Missile Defense and the Arctic Chokepoint
Bessent also highlighted Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system, designed to protect North America from ballistic missile threats. Greenland is essential to making that system viable.
“Greenland is essential to the U.S. national security,” Bessent explained. “We’re building the golden dome, the missile system.”
Geographically, Greenland sits at a critical chokepoint between North America and Europe. Militarily, it offers early-warning capabilities and control over Arctic air and sea routes. Economically, it holds vast reserves of rare earth minerals—resources vital for modern defense systems and currently dominated by China.
Bessent summed up Trump’s philosophy with striking clarity: “We are not going to outsource our Western Hemisphere security to others.”
Denmark lacks the capacity to defend Greenland without NATO support. That means if Russia ever made a move, American forces would be pulled in regardless. Trump’s argument is simple—secure the territory now through economic and diplomatic strength rather than gamble on a future conflict.
Europe Howls as Tariffs Hit
The backlash was immediate. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement accusing Trump of undermining transatlantic relations. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the move “completely wrong,” while French President Emmanuel Macron labeled it “unacceptable.” European Council President António Costa rushed to schedule an emergency meeting.
Protests even erupted in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. Still, Trump didn’t retreat. He announced 10 percent tariffs beginning February 1, escalating to 25 percent by June 1 until negotiations advance.
Bessent defended the strategy without apology: “The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency. It is a strategic decision by the president. This is a geopolitical decision.”
The Defense Gap Europe Can’t Ignore
Bessent also exposed the massive imbalance at the core of NATO. Since 1980, the United States has spent $22 trillion more on defense than Europe combined. Only after years of Trump’s pressure did European governments begin to increase military spending.
Denmark did sacrifice heavily in Afghanistan, losing more soldiers per capita than almost any NATO nation. But that sacrifice doesn’t erase the broader reality. As Bessent put it plainly, “Europeans project weakness. US projects strength.”
If America withdrew support from Ukraine tomorrow, the effort would collapse almost instantly. Europe knows it. That’s why Bessent believes European leaders will eventually fall back in line.
Senator Rand Paul dismissed the approach as “ridiculous,” criticizing the idea of declaring emergencies to prevent emergencies. But history offers a harsh lesson. “What evidence was there that the Russians were going into Crimea?” Bessent asked.
Russia seized Crimea while the Obama administration hesitated. Trump is determined not to repeat that mistake—especially when it comes to Greenland and the future of the Arctic.
