According to a batch of U.S. State Department cables obtained by POLITICO, the actions taken by Trump to "acquire" Greenland have triggered a chain reaction among European allies and strategic competitors. The cables reveal that China believes this move could exacerbate transatlantic tensions and create space for Europe to "hedge" against the U.S. Finland is eager to avoid triggering a trade war with the U.S. over the Greenland issue. Iceland expressed strong dissatisfaction at being implied as the "next target." The rising tensions, combined with the Ukraine conflict, tariff disputes, and differences in U.S.-EU policies, have become a new source of friction in an already strained transatlantic relationship. At the same time, Trump is discussing a framework agreement that does not involve U.S. "ownership" of Greenland but may expand U.S. military and mining activities. The cables also highlight Europe's practical reliance on the U.S. security role. According to reports, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen privately urged "not to make a scene" and downplayed the possibility of EU countermeasures against tariffs, stating efforts would be made to avoid a trade war. The cables also mention that China is assessing the diplomatic opportunities arising from this situation while being wary of the potential for the U.S. military to expand its presence in Greenland, which could consolidate American military and infrastructure advantages in the Arctic. The U.S. State Department did not comment on the details of the cables, only quoting Rubio's congressional testimony that the U.S. has initiated and will continue dialogue with Denmark and Greenland.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855724397597002/
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