The US President’s latest trade war gambit, this time targeting the autonomous territory of Greenland, has laid bare the growing rift between America and its traditional European allies. With the White House demanding concessions or facing retaliatory measures, the future of the Western alliance appears increasingly uncertain.
The tensions began last week when the US President made clear his intention to acquire Greenland, a move that prompted Denmark to scramble troops to the island in a show of solidarity with its semi-autonomous territory. Now, rather than an outright invasion, the US is pursuing an economic offensive, threatening tariffs and other punitive measures against European countries that refuse to comply.
For the UK, this latest clash presents a particularly acute challenge. Prime Minister Starmer has sought to navigate a middle ground, unwilling to fully align with either Europe or the US. But as the President makes clear, there is no room for fence-sitting – it’s all in or all out. Britain’s decision to contribute a single officer to the Greenland deployment was met with presidential wrath, underscoring the fragility of the special relationship.
Analysts warn that the old Western alliance is effectively dead, with the US under this President no longer a reliable ally. Europe’s instinct will be to seek a negotiated compromise, buying time in the hope of outlasting an increasingly unpopular administration. Yet in the long term, they acknowledge the need for an “escape plan” – a concerted effort to build alternative economic and security structures independent of American power.
For the UK, this will mean tough choices. Rebuilding ties with continental Europe may require a rethinking of Brexit, while significant new investments in defence will compete with strained public services. The path forward is fraught, but with the trans-Atlantic relationship in tatters, British policymakers recognize the urgent necessity of charting a new course.
