We should recognize in Trump’s policy (as absurd as it may be and outside international legitimacy and tradition) a cynical pragmatism. In Trump’s logic, with a certain amount of instability that is manifested by the frequent changes in aspirations, statements and targets, the concept of isolationism, which does not want involvement in distant zones of operations and foreign countries, holds a strong position. On the other hand, the Trump administration boldly speaks of “consolidating its sovereignty in the American Continent”, which is treated as an “internal space”. How do the two combine, the introversion of isolationism and on the other hand the extroversion, which requires a large zone of political control? We saw it in Venezuela, we probably see it in Greenland and Canada. That is, a network of short, highly intense and symbolic military actions (Venezuela) is developed, along with a multitude of threats, either open or veiled, so that the reluctant interlocutor, in a state of confusion and fear but also fatigue from the constant intensity of the threat from a superpower, comes to any negotiating table and accepts an already prepared solution.
For example, Trump threatens to “take Greenland by force”, sometimes he says he will “buy it”, sometimes he leaves hints that a large agreement for a “protection” status would be satisfactory. So the latter is probably the most likely, where everyone will be satisfied. The Danes who will not come into conflict with the US, the residents of Greenland who will have some inflow of investments and the American side who will be able to add this huge area to the network of “dependent zones” that it already has internationally.
We can see similar scenarios with Mexico and other Latin American countries, since the first experiment… has already succeeded, as the US government believes. That is, a declaration of submission to American primacy should be made, along with the removal of any obstacle to the advance of American companies that will undertake the most profitable transactions and exploitations, as well as preferential service to Washington’s wishes at every level. After each Venezuela will be able to continue its internal management (rise or fall), while in the US the policy of unconscionability, of exerting military pressure and threats without any moral qualms and legitimization, that is, the “Trumpification” of international relations, will be celebrated as a “great victory”.
