COLUMN: Trump Wants to Redraw the World Map, and No One Seems to Realize the Extent of This Delusion

Threats of Tariffs to Force Denmark’s Hand

Greenland has become Trump’s obsession since his return to power in January 2025. This vast, sparsely populated autonomous territory under Danish rule represents a major strategic issue for him. Trump claims he wants to counter Russian and Chinese advances in the Arctic. On January 17, 2026, he took things a step further by threatening eight European countries with tariffs of up to 25% if Denmark does not cede Greenland to him. Starting February 1, a 10% surcharge will apply to goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. On June 1, 2026, these tariffs will rise to 25% and remain in effect “until an agreement is reached for the complete and full sale of Greenland.”

A European military operation that irritates Trump

These threats come on the heels of the deployment of Operation “Arctic Endurance,” led by Norway, France, Sweden, and Germany. About fifteen French soldiers, all high-altitude specialists, are stationed in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. For Trump, this European presence is a “very dangerous game” that poses a “risk that is neither tenable nor viable.” He believes it is “imperative, in order to protect global peace and security, to take decisive action to ensure that this potentially perilous situation comes to a swift and unequivocal end.” Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has been clear, however: “Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”

Fifteen French soldiers in Greenland. Fifteen. And Trump is talking about a “perilous situation.” He’s threatening massive tariffs. He’s raising the specter of an international crisis. Over fifteen soldiers. But the real problem isn’t those fifteen soldiers. It’s that Trump wants Greenland. Period. And he’s willing to do anything to get it. Including threatening his own NATO allies. Including destroying decades of transatlantic cooperation. Because to him, Greenland means oil, rare earth minerals, and above all, a vast territory that would make the United States “the world’s largest country by land area, ahead of Russia.” Just in time for the 250th anniversary of American independence, on July 4, 2026.

Repeated provocations over the past year

Since returning to power in January 2025, Trump has regularly raised the idea of annexing Canada as the 51st U.S. state. This is no joke. It is not an isolated provocation. It is a systematic campaign. In January 2026, at the Davos Forum, he once again raised this idea in front of world leaders. He released maps showing Canada incorporated into the United States. He declared that Canadians would benefit from the absence of customs tariffs if they agreed to become Americans. As if 40 million Canadians were just waiting to be asked to give up their sovereignty.

Canadians Respond Firmly

Canadian reactions range from disbelief to anger. Protests have taken place across the country. Canadian political leaders across the spectrum have categorically rejected these proposals. But Trump persists. He claims that Canada cannot defend itself alone against Russia and China. He claims that the border between the two countries is “artificially drawn” and that a union would benefit everyone. He’s just overlooking one detail: Canadians don’t want to become Americans. They have their own identity, their own history, their own healthcare system, and their own values. But to Trump, none of that matters.

There is something deeply insulting about Trump’s obsession with Canada. It’s as if an entire country—with its culture, history, and institutions—were merely a natural extension of the United States that hasn’t yet figured out where it belongs. Canadians look at their southern neighbor with a mixture of astonishment and concern. Because they know Trump isn’t joking. That he’s capable of turning his fantasies into foreign policy. And that the world’s longest border—the one separating Canada from the United States—could become the scene of a major diplomatic crisis.

The “Monroe Doctrine” According to Trump

What Trump is putting in place resembles a new Monroe Doctrine—that 19th-century policy that asserted American hegemony over the Western Hemisphere. Except that Trump is going further. He isn’t content merely to claim a sphere of influence. He wants to annex territories. He wants to redraw borders. He wants to physically expand the United States. Greenland for the Arctic. Canada for the north. Venezuela for the oil. And why not the Panama Canal while we’re at it? Trump has, in fact, already raised this possibility on several occasions.

A “mafia-style” policy, according to experts

Romuald Sciora, director of the U.S. Political and Geostrategic Observatory at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS), describes this approach as “mafia-style politics.” “This new American diplomacy resembles racketeering in many ways,” he stated on franceinfo. Trump threatens, imposes tariffs, raises the specter of military intervention, and then offers to “negotiate.” It’s the gangster’s strategy: smashing your storefront before offering you protection services. And it works. Because the targeted countries are forced to react, to defend themselves, to justify their very existence.

We are witnessing something unprecedented in recent history. A U.S. president who openly embraces imperial ambitions. Who no longer even hides behind humanitarian or democratic pretexts. Who clearly states: I want these territories, I’m going to take them, and if you resist, I’ll punish you economically. It’s brutal. It’s direct. It’s terrifying. And the most worrying thing is that it might actually work. Because Trump has understood one thing: in a world where might trumps right, whoever dares to do anything can get anything.

A Display of Unity, Yet Fragile

European leaders have responded firmly to Trump’s threats. Emmanuel Macron stated that “tariff threats are unacceptable” and that “Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner.” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson affirmed: “We will not be intimidated.” ” The Danish foreign minister said he was “surprised” by these threats. Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement warning that “tariffs would weaken transatlantic relations and pose the risk of a dangerous downward spiral.”

But what concrete response will there be?

Beyond the statements, what will the European response be? An extraordinary meeting of ambassadors from the 27 EU countries was held on January 19, 2026, in Brussels. Emmanuel Macron called for the activation of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, a tool created in 2023 to address China’s trade practices. This instrument makes it possible to restrict a country’s imports or its access to certain public procurement markets. Manfred Weber, leader of the right-wing bloc in the European Parliament, believes that the EU-U.S. trade agreement concluded in the summer of 2025 cannot be ratified in the current context. But not all European countries are in the same boat when it comes to a trade war with the United States.

Europe talks of unity. Europe promises retaliation. Europe brandishes its legal tools. But deep down, Europe is afraid. Afraid of losing the American market. Afraid of seeing NATO implode. Afraid of finding itself alone against Russia and China. And Trump knows this. He’s playing on these fears. He divides to better rule. He knows that Germany, whose economy depends on exports, won’t react the same way as France. He knows that the Baltic states, which rely on American protection against Russia, will hesitate to defy Washington. European unity looks good on paper. But in the face of Trump, it could quickly begin to crack.

Democrats Demand Accountability

In the United States, Democrats demanded an immediate briefing following the operation in Venezuela. They criticized Trump for failing to seek congressional authorization before launching a military attack. But Trump brushed off the criticism: “Congress tends to run away. It wouldn’t be good if they ran away.” ” He informed lawmakers after the operation, not before. Because he knew they might have opposed it. Or worse, that the information might have leaked and compromised the mission.

Republicans Largely Silent

On the Republican side, the silence is deafening. A few lawmakers applauded the operation in Venezuela, praising Trump’s “firmness” in the face of drug trafficking. But regarding the threats concerning Greenland and Canada, few voices are being raised. Some Republicans seem uncomfortable, but none dare to openly defy the president. Trump has turned the Republican Party into a machine at his service. Those who dare to criticize him are quickly marginalized, or even expelled. So most remain silent. And in the meantime, Trump continues to redraw the map of the world according to his fantasies.

The U.S. Congress, which is supposed to serve as a check on executive power, has become a powerless bystander. Democrats protest, but they are in the minority. Republicans remain silent, whether out of fear or political calculation. And Trump does as he pleases. He launches military operations without authorization. He threatens allies with tariffs. He posts fantastical maps on social media. And no one stops him. Because no one can stop him. That is the reality of America in 2026. One man, alone, who decides everything. And a political system that has given up on controlling him.

An Atlantic Alliance in Jeopardy

Trump’s threats against Greenland jeopardize NATO itself. Denmark has been a member of the Atlantic Alliance since 1949. Greenland, although an autonomous territory, remains under Danish sovereignty. By threatening Denmark with tariffs to secure Greenland, Trump is directly attacking a NATO ally. This is unprecedented. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized this: “Imposing tariffs on allies in the name of the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong.” ” But Trump doesn’t care. For him, NATO is merely a tool to serve American interests. If the Alliance does not serve those interests, it has no reason to exist.

A World Order in Flux

Beyond NATO, the entire post-World War II world order is faltering. That order was based on principles: respect for state sovereignty, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and multilateralism. Trump tramples on these principles. He asserts that might trumps right. That borders can be redrawn according to the balance of power. That small countries must submit to large ones. It’s a return to the 19th century, to the era of colonial empires. Except that it’s 2026. And the world has changed. Or at least, we thought it had.

We are at a historic turning point. The world order as we knew it is collapsing. And Trump is its chief gravedigger. He isn’t content merely to challenge this order. He is actively destroying it. He is showing the other powers—China, Russia, India—that rules no longer matter. That only force matters. And these powers are taking note. They’re watching. They’re learning. And tomorrow, they’ll do the same. Because if Trump can annex Venezuela, why couldn’t China annex Taiwan? If Trump can threaten Denmark, why couldn’t Russia threaten the Baltic states? We’re entering an era of chaos. And we don’t yet fully grasp all the consequences.

Greenland and Its Mineral Resources

Why is Trump so keen on Greenland? For its rare earth elements—metals essential for manufacturing smartphones, computers, and electric vehicle batteries. Greenland is rich in them. China currently controls 80% of global rare earth production. By taking over Greenland, Trump could reduce this dependence. There’s also oil, gas, and, above all, Greenland’s strategic position in the Arctic. With global warming, new shipping routes are opening up in the Arctic. Whoever controls Greenland controls these routes. And Trump understands this very well.

Venezuela and Its Black Gold

Venezuela possesses the world’s largest oil reserves—more than Saudi Arabia, more than Russia. But under Maduro, these reserves have remained largely untapped due to U.S. sanctions and mismanagement. Trump wants that oil. He has made it clear: “We’re going to take back the oil that, frankly, we should have taken back a long time ago.” ” He speaks of “compensation for damages.” But in reality, this is nothing more than the outright appropriation of a sovereign nation’s resources. Colonialism in its rawest form.

Behind the rhetoric about national security, the fight against drug trafficking, and the protection of the Arctic lies a much more prosaic reality: money. Trump wants Greenland for its rare earth minerals. He wants Venezuela for its oil. He wants Canada for… well, for everything. For its natural resources, for its fresh water, for its vast territory. It’s a purely extractivist logic. The local populations? They don’t matter. Their will? It doesn’t matter. Only the resources matter. And whoever has the power to take them. We’ve returned to the era of the conquistadors. Except that instead of the Incas’ gold, we’re after lithium and oil.

The Normalization of the Unacceptable

The most terrifying thing about all this isn’t that Trump has these ambitions. It’s that they’re starting to become normalized. We’re getting used to it. We shrug it off. “It’s Trump—he says whatever comes to mind.” Except he doesn’t just say whatever comes to mind. He acts on it. He’s invaded Venezuela. He’s threatening Denmark. He’s provoking Canada. And little by little, the unthinkable becomes thinkable. The unacceptable becomes acceptable. Because we’re getting used to it. Because we no longer know how to react. Because we’re tired of being outraged.

A Test for the International Community

What Trump is doing is a test for the international community. A test of our ability to defend the principles we claim to cherish: respect for sovereignty, international law, and cooperation among nations. If we let Trump redraw the map of the world according to his whims, we’re sending a clear message to all the other powers: do the same. Take whatever you want. Might makes right. And then, we’ll enter an era of chaos from which no one will emerge unscathed. Not even the United States.

I look at this altered map that Trump has published. Greenland, Canada, Venezuela—all under the American flag. And I ask myself: Is this really the world we want to live in? A world where one man can decide, single-handedly, to redraw borders? A world where might replaces right? A world where sovereign nations are nothing more than potential prey for the most powerful? Because if we accept this, if we let it happen, then we are renouncing everything that has been built since 1945. We are renouncing the very idea of an international community. We are renouncing the hope of a world governed by common rules. And we are plunging into chaos—a chaos of which Trump is merely the first symptom, but certainly not the last.

Signed, Jacques Provost