Europe continues asserting control in the Arctic

Nato announced yesterday that it is moving forward with plans for “Arctic Sentry,” a military exercise first proposed by Europe in January as an assertion of European control over Greenland. President Trump had threatened to acquire the strategic island for the United States, by force if necessary. European nato nations pushed back, even sending small numbers of troops to commence Operation Arctic Endurance, which is scheduled to continue for the rest of the year. The Arctic is crucial for strategic defense, particularly ballistic missile defense. President Trump’s push to own Greenland indicates that he considers existing agreements with Europe unreliable. This friction is a foreshock of the U.S. and Europe becoming not only troubled allies but predator and prey.