Politis

Former NATO Secretary-General: 'Enough with the Flattery of Trump'

Published January 20, 2026, 18:13
Former NATO Secretary-General: 'Enough with the Flattery of Trump'

Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has warned that the North Atlantic Alliance is facing its most serious crisis in history, due to the unpredictable moves and threats of Donald Trump, including his statements about buying Greenland. Rasmussen argued that Europe must react with determination and economic power to US pressure, as Trump 'only respects strength and unity'. Furthermore, Rasmussen expressed concern that the focus on Greenland is diverting attention from the war in Ukraine, a real threat to security. He believes that a military attack by Trump on Greenland would mean the end of NATO. He proposed a three-pronged plan to address the crisis: renewing a 1951 agreement on the US presence in Greenland with enhanced NATO involvement, an investment program to exploit Greenland's mineral resources, and an agreement to prevent Chinese and Russian investment in strategic sectors. Finally, Rasmussen stressed that Greenland is not for sale and that Trump, as a real estate expert, should know this. At the same time, he avoided criticizing the current head of NATO, Mark Rutte, for his approach to Trump, but emphasized the need for a new, more dynamic European stance.