Donald Trump has never criticized the Russian dictator. Many American Republicans, during the electoral campaign and after the November elections, claimed that he would continue to support Ukraine and not abandon it in the face of Russian aggression. Unfortunately, the first signs have emerged that they were mistaken.
Trump’s press conference at his Florida residence was revealing in the sense that nothing major has changed in his discourse from the first term, with the President-elect having the European Union and NATO as his main adversaries.
Changes have occurred in the international political context, which has become complicated, volatile, and dominated by political and military conflicts.
Donald Trump's declaration of Canada as the 51st American state "seems like a scene from a post-liberal world order. But I see it more as a move in the strange societal game imagined... by Donald Trump and his clown Elon Musk," said Daniel Doagă, a Romanian businessman who has been living in Canada for three decades.
"...it's hard not to fear what could be the toughest test yet for the viability of our declining democracies," he added, for Spotmedia.ro.
In addition to this, Trump, in an official statement this time, did not rule out the use of military force to achieve goals, such as conquering Greenland and taking control of the Panama Canal, with a rhetoric similar to that of his first term.
Back then, he made an offer to purchase the large island in the Atlantic Ocean, an autonomous region under Danish administration, and talked about annexing Canada and exerted great pressure on NATO, demanding a rapid increase in defense budgets.
Why Have Denmark and Canada Become Targets?
There are ten days left until the inauguration, and Donald Trump has not provided many details on how he will end the conflict in Ukraine, which he promised to resolve quickly during his campaign.
From the 24 hours he initially said he would need, as he repeatedly announced before the elections, Trump has now stated that it will take him at least 100 days to resolve the issue.
Don Jr. and my representatives have landed in Greenland. The reception was great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and peace! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. Make Greenland great again!
Donald Trump, US President, social media post
Meanwhile, both he and Elon Musk, the world's richest man, have launched a strong attack on European democracies and NATO member states.
Denmark and Canada are the countries that have massively contributed, alongside the USA during Joe Biden's administration, to the military support of Ukraine, aiming to resist Russian aggression.
The Danish government has approved a €6.5 billion aid package for Kiev until 2028, transferring 19 F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force in July 2024.
Starting in 2022, the time of Putin's invasion, Canada has supported Ukraine with nearly $20 billion, trained over 42,000 Ukrainian soldiers, and spent $400 million on training F-16 pilots, according to the government in Ottawa.
Trump Has a Peace Plan - Bringing Europe Closer to War
Donald Trump's public statements indicate that he has started working on a plan to end the conflict in Ukraine, with the first step being to weaken and discourage the aid provided to Ukraine by NATO member states.
A weakening of the Western alliance in terms of economic, political, and military support for Kiev represents an opening to end the conflict, but in a threatening manner for the security and peace in Europe.
Vladimir Putin cannot defeat Ukraine and cannot remove Volodymyr Zelensky from power as long as transatlantic solidarity functions.
Donald Trump's statements shake the foundation of this solidarity, putting pressure on Europe and NATO, demanding a rapid increase in military spending to 5% of GDP, economically unsustainable for many countries on the continent, including Romania.
President-elect Trump's comments show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country. Our economy is strong. Our people are strong. We will never back down in the face of threats.
Mélanie Joly, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Throughout the past year, there have been several meetings and discussions among European leaders regarding preparing an action plan in case Donald Trump returns to the White House.
At that time, there were political experts who said that such a possibility is real, and Europe must be prepared.
"...Joe Biden is... the last truly transatlantic president in the traditional sense - in terms of his character and career," said Thomas Erndl, a conservative German deputy and vice-chair of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, to the Washington Post, two months ago.
"This is why Europe needs to take on more responsibilities, especially regarding security," the German politician added.
Opposition within the Republican Party
The political attacks launched by Trump against Canada and Denmark, coupled with Elon Musk's attacks on Germany and the UK, represent important political pillars of the new administration. The impact remains to be seen.
Looking back at Donald Trump's first term, it is evident that American democracy is stronger and more sophisticated than the President-elect's political vision.
Although Republicans hold the majority of seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, there are strong opposing opinions within the party against the President's vision.
So far, Donald Trump has suffered two defeats in Congress, being forced to withdraw his proposal for the position of Attorney General after nominating Matt Gaetz, a member of the House of Representatives, investigated for sex with minors and drug use, and regarding the conditions for continuing funding federal institutions and agencies, deemed unacceptable by party representatives.
Shifting Attention Away from Ukraine
"...I was in the car, on my way to work, when I heard on the radio that Trump wants to make Canada the 51st state. I couldn't believe it! I expected a lot, but not this," Ada Bucur shared with Spotmedia.ro, a Canadian citizen of Romanian origin who has been living in Vancouver for 7 years, the author's sister.
"...Trump's speech continued with everything he wants from Canada... Basically, do as I say, or I'll bury you economically! I was shocked, and that's an understatement, but it seems that Canadian political leaders are even more shocked, and many still don't believe it... saying it's Trump's negotiation tactic. So chaos! And he hasn't even taken office at the White House yet," Ada Bucur added.
Regardless, Donald Trump's statements, besides causing confusion and fear, have shifted attention away from what is happening in Ukraine, from the political and military dynamics in Russia to those in Europe and NATO, giving Putin a boost in international public pressure and time to mitigate the effects of military failures.
There is a glimmer of hope in the reactions of European leaders, indicating a certain readiness to resist in the face of Donald Trump's new term.
In recent days, we have witnessed calm and rational stances from Ms. Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, a balanced reaction from Keir Starmer, the leader of the United Kingdom, in response to Elon Musk's attacks, as well as some resolute and unequivocal statements from Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, and from Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany.
Surely, Donald Trump will shape international politics, but there are, as of yet, timid signs that he will not obtain everything he desires, nor what his billionaire associates and Vladimir Putin desire.