AFTER DEVOS ...

 

AFTER DAVOS …

It was quite an experience to hear Mr. Trump in Davos day before yesterday ☹ I wouldn't call it a speech. It was a collection of words – served up over the course of 72 minutes. You have to look for nonsense and nonsense for a long time. We persevered all the way again – with the hope that maybe some sense would come. But it ended up with common self-praise, lies, nonsense, insults and – yes, mixing up several countries such as Greenland and Iceland ☹

I will have to address a few of the worst claims right away:

1.      NATO: Trump claimed that the US has paid for almost everything – and has received nothing in return. The facts are: The various countries' defense expenditures are NOT paid to NATO. They are their own expenses, paid for their own defense. The US therefore does not pay to NATO either (except for the small operating expenses for the organization, which all 32 members naturally share).

2.      Europe's defense: Again – Trump implied that the United States pays for almost everything. The Europeans pay nothing. Nonsense! First, each pays for its own defense. And on top of that, Germany pays billions to the United States for the American forces in Germany. There are currently 24,000 American soldiers in Germany. They are paid for by German taxpayers. I don't know if the same arrangement applies in the other European countries where the United States has troops. For example, in Italy, Romania, Poland, Greece, Spain and the United Kingdom. It is quite possible that the countries also have to pay at least some of it for them.

3.      Total defense spending: Trump emphasized that the United States pays huge sums for defense (to their War Department, which he now calls their defense department). Up to 5% of GDP. In contrast, European countries pay much less. 

So, two hard facts: The agreement in NATO since the NATO Cardiff summit in 2014 is that each country must spend at least 2% of GDP by 2024. Well, not everyone is doing it yet. But there is an agreement that this figure must increase everywhere due to the international situation. And many NATO countries are well on their way. And the second very important point is that the United States has chosen to have military activities and presence over most of the globe. That is their choice. NATO covers the North Atlantic and European area. Therefore, less military is needed than the United States.

4.      Greenland: Trump's claim is that the US "had" Greenland during World War II and built up a defense throughout the country. And that it was STUPID of the Americans to give it back to Denmark after 1945". Nonsense! Greenland has always been Danish, including during World War II. But when Denmark was occupied by the Germans from 1940-45, the US asked to be allowed to use Greenland to ferry military equipment to Europe during the war. And the Danish ambassador Henrik Kaufmann in Washington said yes. Just as the British took care of the defense of the Faroe Islands and Iceland during  the war. And the British have never perceived this as ownership of these parts of the Danish kingdom. And neither have the Americans before Trump.

5.      There is much else in the so-called speech that actually requires serious comment. But let's leave it at that. Now we also have the results of the European Summit last night. Europe is more united than ever before in this matter – and in its relations to the US.  If the Americans start bullying us again or get aggressive towards Greenland or other parts of NATO, we know what to do.  Together!   And we are also waiting for a clarification of what it is that Trump and Mark Rutte actually agreed on the other day. And even if it is clarified, it will probably be changed again by tomorrow at the latest - by Mr. Trump.

6.      May I instead recommend that you read the excellent speech that Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, gave in Davos. It is excellent - and gives hope that together we will find a new and better way to stick together.

You can find the speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btqHDhO4h10    

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen - 23 01 2026

e-mail: niels4europe@gmail.com