Trump has Iceland and Canada on his “shopping list”

Greenland just the beginning?

Expert on Trump: “He has these countries on his shopping list”

Isn’t Donald Trump leaving his access to Greenland? Are Iceland and Canada already on his “shopping list”? At least that’s what a well-known political expert says.

In view of the geopolitical situation, the German political scientist Herfried Münkler believes that a world order based on five powers may be desirable. History teaches that five-way systems last relatively long in contrast to three-way constellations, said Münkler on Wednesday in the ORF news program “ZiB2”. In addition to the USA, China and Russia, the EU and India would have to establish themselves as influential powers.

In any case, that would make more sense than reminding people of international law in the current world situation, which is characterized by actions such as the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to Münkler, there is no guardian of international law who can enforce the rules.

Münkler had previously said in the ZDF morning magazine that international law was virtually suspended. Since the start of the Ukraine war, world politics has been operating in an environment “in which breaking the rules is, in principle, a reward.” The result is a system in which rules are no longer adhered to “because there is no longer a guardian of the rule system” and in which ultimately “the rule breakers are the winners.”

“It will not be a friendly world order that is coming to us,” said Münkler. But five relevant forces could constitute a power-based order. Military neutrality, as Austria maintains, is not attractive. “In a world order like the one we have now, neutrality is actually voluntarily placing oneself in a position of weakness and relative insignificance.”

The Berlin scientist also commented on Trump’s ambitions to annex Greenland. This was “reasonably” unimaginable a year ago. Regarding the US President’s motives, Münkler said that geostrategically he was probably interested in a complete withdrawal from Europe. With Greenland he could secure “cost-effective control of the North Atlantic.” The argument that the US government always hears that Greenland is needed to contain the Russian and Chinese zones of influence is only an excuse.

“You shouldn’t necessarily believe him when he says there are so many Russian and Chinese ships there,” said Münkler. “They’re not there.” The 74-year-old professor also raised the possibility that Trump could also have his eye on Iceland after Greenland. The Europeans could put pressure on the US President by offering to station a larger contingent of NATO troops in Greenland to secure the North Atlantic. “Then he would have to show his colors,” said Münkler in an interview with “ZIB2” presenter Armin Wolff.