Summary:
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daily Mail According to reports, Trump has ordered US special forces to prepare plans for an invasion of Greenland.
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Senior US military leaders are opposing the plan, calling it illegal and lacking congressional support.
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Advisers led by Stephen Miller are said to be pursuing the idea following the Venezuela operation.
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British diplomats see a possible political motive ahead of the US midterm elections.
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European officials have warned that extreme scenarios could disintegrate NATO.
For markets:
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Escalatory Greenland rhetoric increases geopolitical risks in the Arctic region.
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Any strain on NATO cohesion would be negative for European security confidence.
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Increased geopolitical uncertainty generally favors safe-haven assets.
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Forex volatility could increase if US-Europe relations deteriorate.
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Energy and defense sectors may see an increase in risk-premium pricing.
britain sunday daily Mail US President Donald Trump has instructed his top special forces commanders to prepare contingency plans for an invasion of Greenland, a move that senior US military leaders are reportedly opposing, reports said. This has come to light quoting sources mail on sundayTrump’s close advisers, particularly political strategist Stephen Miller, are excited by the recent operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and want to act quickly to seize the Arctic island before Russia or China makes a move.
British diplomatic sources believe Trump may also be motivated by domestic political motives, hoping that dramatic foreign-policy actions could distract US voters from weak economic performance ahead of this year’s midterm elections. However, the plan has alarmed senior military figures, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff reportedly backing down on the grounds that an invasion would be illegal and lack congressional support.
One insider told the newspaper that the general is attempting to divert Trump’s attention to “less controversial measures”, such as countering alleged Russian “ghost ships” or a possible attack on Iran, likening the effort to trying to deal with a “five-year-old child”.
Diplomats have reportedly war-gamed several scenarios, ranging from “escalated” use of force or coercion to sever Greenland’s ties with Denmark, to a “compromise scenario” in which Denmark grants the US expanded military access while formally restraining Russia and China. A diplomatic cable quoted by The Mail Warned that the most extreme scenario “could lead to the destruction of NATO from within.”
According to the cable, hard-liners around Trump may see the occupation of Greenland as a way to force European NATO members to leave the alliance, as Congress will not allow the president to unilaterally withdraw the United States from NATO. Under the compromise approach, Denmark would let the US expand legal military rights over the island – rights it already enjoys in practice – potentially aligning Greenland with Washington’s strategic goals.
European officials reportedly believe the scope for action is shrinking ahead of snap elections, and have pointed to the upcoming NATO summit as a possible moment to cement an agreement. A diplomatic source gave this information daily Mail The British position will be important, given that Britain’s support for Europe could decide how allies respond to Trump’s proposals. Meanwhile, the general is said to consider Trump’s Greenland plan “crazy and illegal” and is trying to divert his attention from other military priorities.
