“Kings, and Persons of Sovereign authority, because of their Independency, are in continual jealousies… having their weapons pointing, and their eyes fixed on one another.” Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
International Relations is not some new term thought up by a “woke” celebrity. Thomas Hobbes, who is said to be the philosopher-mind behind strict realism in foreign policy, recognized the importance of relationships. He believed “all acts are ultimately self-serving–that in a state of nature, humans would behave completely selfishly. He concludes that humanity’s natural condition is a state of perpetual war, fear, and amorality, and that only government can hold a society together.”
The “government” we have relied on for almost 80 years is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Yes, we have relied on ourselves, but we have understood that we cannot stand astride the globe ordering nations around. Humanity won’t allow it.
So let me go from 17th-century Hobbes to today and to NATO. When we think of Europe, we are likely to think of a special moment in Paris where we gather with friends at a sidewalk cafe. Or, an awe-inspiring vista in Norway. Yes, that too is NATO, which is a voluntary coalition of mostly like-minded nations to encourage peace while being prepared for war. It spans the North Atlantic Ocean while also coordinating with non-NATO, but like-minded Asian nations.
And if I look at the fiscal affairs of NATO, the United States is the largest contributor (approximately 16%) but our defense industries prosper as NATO nations are among the biggest customers.
As large and strong as the U.S. is, we, from time to time, have gone to war to defend ourselves. And we do so confident that our allies will be with us. In the Afghanistan War, almost 1,000 Danish troops joined us.
Denmark is much in the news today because President Trump has said the U.S. intends to take its territory known as Greenland. Trump’s solo act has resulted in France and Germany sending troops to Greenland. Trump has weaponized foreign policy and aimed it at NATO. Hobbes’s darker side would reflexively understand.
Trump claims we need Greenland as a defensive barrier against China and Russia. We have a military base in Greenland and its leaders have invited a broader and deeper relationship. But take it from our ally Denmark?
You might recall that the President also began his new term by insulting Canada. He said Canada was our 51st State and then began discriminatory moves in trade. The result is an estimated loss of $4 to $6 billion in tourism and deep trade revenue losses, even though exact figures are not available.
Yes, the President leaned into NATO allies, telling them to step up in both financial support and their own defense expenditures. If NATO is a shared responsibility, and it is, that was a good move. But Trump has now weaponized foreign policy and turned the gun on us.
Now Trump says we need a 50% increase in defense spending in the 2027 budget—from $901 billion in 2026 to $1.5 trillion in 2027. Maybe we are going to take on the world by ourselves. Facing a $38 trillion dollar national debt this kind of leap is not only excessive it is suicidal.
And what about comity, “considerate behavior toward others”. We know in our lives and complexity of associations that considerate behavior pays dividends. Yet at some point Trump went from merely self-serving to head scratching paranoia. Even his political friends are pushing back on Greenland.
Politics is the only answer. The sooner he is a lame duck and treated like one his power will be diminished. I hate to suggest that, but when the Chief acts like Dr. Strangelove, something must be done.
Let me end where I began with Thomas Hobbes. Why would America want to be complicit in creating a Hobbesian environment? It makes no sense. Those who represent us in Washington need to push back—hard.
So let me give the final word to Professor Barnislav Slanthev, University of California, San Diego.
“To the idiots blabbering blithely about Greenland and “U.S. doesn’t need NATO,” do us all a favor and check what U.S. power projection requires and what losing our presence in Europe, with all the bases and logistical infrastructure to support global deployments, would entail. Next check what it would cost us to man all the resulting gaps in the Atlantic and Arctic defense, and explain where we’re going to build substitute ports and bases if we wish to retain a foothold in the Middle East. I know you people seem to think that the U.S. magically teleports entire brigades thousands of miles away or that aircraft carriers can just float around for years on their own, but this is truly unserious bullshit. If you thought America was spending “too much” on defense because of NATO, just wait until you learn what we would have to spend without NATO to maintain even a fraction of our global influence.”
Losing NATO — which is what will happen if we attempt to coerce Denmark (read Article I) — will be the surest and fastest way to global decline. Now, if you are Russia or China, you would surely welcome this. But if you are an American, you wouldn’t.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
Jim Bachman says
During the pandemic I bided my time walking outside listenng to a podcast series on the collapse of civilizations. The host’s goal as a historian was to coax out common threads.
The first takeaway for me was that there have been a lot more civilizations collapse than most people realize – I mean a lot!
The two most common threads were (a) climate shift (not caused by humans) and (b) the breakdown of alliances with other civilizations. When threatened, either by an invading force or other calamaty such as famine when there were no alliances to fall back on the civilization often collapsed entirely.
Dick Deerin says
Russia, China and other hostile nations are clapping their collective hands, urging Trump on. I spent two and a half years in the Army stationed in Germany. During a number of tactical exercises I saw first hand the strength of the NATO forces. We are fools to even think about weakening that alliance.
Michael Davis says
The loses Mr. Sikes very well lays out are already happening. China and Canada met this week to create new trade deals. Canada supplies us some of the highest quality aluminum in the world. Canada also produces uranium for our nuclear reactors. Not to mention good old fashioned oil and timber.
Canadian aluminum is used in aviation, space hardware, and other fine manufacturing. Trump and his stooges are planning to blanket America in new nuclear power plants to support hundreds of data centers for AI. Where is the uranium going to come from for these nuclear plants? Or the aluminum to satisfy Trump’s rapacious desires to increase the defense budget by 50%.
Go ask the Prime Minister of Canada who he would rather sell to: China or the US. He and China are working on the answer this week.
Meanwhile, Republicans, like our own Andy Harris, are too cowardly to say anything as Trump destroys America.
Jim Bachman says
Much of the developed world is moving on without us. It takes them some time to reorder things but it gets done eventually.
Trade data typically lags a lot of economic data. I saw this item today about soybeans.
“For the first time in more than two decades, the United States did not export any soybeans in the month of October, the traditional start of the exporting season, to the world’s largest market, China.
October was also an unprecedented sixth consecutive month without any U.S. soybean exports to China in at least three decades, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.”
William Keppen says
The mad wannabe king (DJT) can be stopped, but it would take the Republican majorities in Congress or the courts to do that. Unfortunately he seems to own them both. Last resort, mid-term elections in November 2026. That is an opportunity for rational voters to reign Trump in. If we fail, our Republic and America, perhaps, is lost. VOTE LIKE YOUR LIVES AND THOSE OF GENERATIONS TO COME DEPEND ON IT.
Willard Tod Engelskirchen says
Well put. I saw a post from a Danish friend this morning. The Danes are not happy.
It would do all of us well to think about the fact that around WWI Argentina was the 8th most prosperous country in the world. It is possible to screw up our place in the world order. DJT is doing the best he can to run us down. He is working hard to hobble our education system. He is trying to rewrite our history to justify white nationalism. His attacks on research funding are weakening our position as a research powerhouse. However, the senior members of the GOP seem unable to see any of this.
Immigration is yet another matter. When I was employed in industrial research I worked with people from all over. They made us more productive.
Rebecca Ellison says
Maybe think twice about messing with Greenland ….
Enjoy!! Share …..
https://substack.com/@oldreddragon/note/c-199153233?r=75n3m&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Jim Bachman says
It is remarkablw how one defective human can simultaneously be a total laughingstock and a public menace. A bit like having a rabid dog that does neat tricks. After a short laugh you decide that you really need to do something about the rabies.
Martha F Horner says
Well put!!!
Rebecca Ellison says
On a serious note, here is what Malcolm Nance has just said about both Venezuela and Greenland. This video begins with a glimpse into his background and qualifications but perhaps Google him. As a former Navy intelligence officer, now deeply involved with Ukraine and other global hot spots, he is uniquely able to understand and explain the ongoing situations in Venezuela and in Greenland. He literally has his boots on the ground for us.
He will be reporting from Greenland in a matter of days andbcan be followed on his substack podcast, Black Man Spy.
https://www.thedangercorps.com/p/malcolm-nance-exposes-trumps-plan?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=3001535&post_id=184726132&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_button&r=75n3m&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Rebecca Ellison says
‘URGENT ALERT – ‘GREENLAND WARNING: U.S. Arctic Forces placed on Alert to go to ‘Minnesota’.’
Click here to view update video posted today by Malcolm Nance, former Navy intelligence officer actively involved with Denmark etc. at highest levels, leaving today on planned trip to Copenhagen then Iceland…. watch for his further updates in Substack (as Malcolm Nance, Black Man Spy).
https://substack.com/home/post/p-185064007?r=75n3m&utm_medium=ios
Please watch video and perhaps call or write Sen. Chris Van Hollen … https://www.can Hollen.senate.gov .
It goes without saying that this is SERIOUS … please spread the word and esp. spread the word if there is something that you can think of that we can actually DO TO STOP THE MADNESS.
How can we even be thinking of invading a fellow NATO country … which happens also to belong to the European Union???????