Are America and Europe Finally Divorcing?

Jan 24, 2026 | In a week that's marked an inflection point in European history and transatlantic relations, Tom and Patrick discuss whether the two continents' world views are, finally, irreconcilable. And, were America to walk away from NATO, what are the military gaps that Europe would rapidly have to fill? Could it do so, and how fast?

Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn
Producer: Shabnam Grewal

Politicians React as Trump Claims NATO Troops Avoided Front Lines | BBC Question Time

Jan 23, 2026 | Following a tense week for European nations over Donald Trump’s threats to Greenland, fresh outrage has been sparked as the US President claimed NATO troops avoided Afghanistan's front line.

Trump told Fox News on Thursday: "They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”

The UK was among several allies to join the US in Afghanistan from 2001, and a total of 457 British service personnel were killed in the conflict.

America Is ‘No Longer an Ally’ | Historian Sir Simon Schama

Jan 23, 2026 | Sir Keir Starmer must recognise the “stiff dose of reality” that Trump has “set has marks on destroying the European Union”, says historian Sir Simon Schama.

Sir Simon Schama was speaking to Chloe Tilley and Calum Macdonald on Times Radio.


Trump is TRASH! — © Mark Alexander

Europe’s Trust in America Is Fundamentally Damaged | Mark Urban

Jan 22, 2026 | “The Belgian prime minister… was saying ‘we don’t want to live like slaves.’”

The deeper realisation following the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos and Donald Trump’s Greenland manoeuvring is that the US President marks a turning point in Europe’s ability to trust America, says Sunday Times columnist Mark Urban.


Americans are no longer our friends. Period. A friend who cannot be trusted is real no friend at all! — © Mark Alexander

Trump’s Rift With Europe Is Clear. Europe Must Decide What to Do About It.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: After President Trump aired his disdain for Europe, its leaders will gather in Brussels Thursday to take stock of what comes next.

The depth of the rift between President Trump and Europe was on full display on Wednesday as Mr. Trump delivered remarks in Davos, Switzerland, airing his disdain for Europe’s immigration policies, its regulations and its strident unwillingness to give him Greenland, which he insists America must own.

For months, Europe has been looking to find a diplomatic answer to de-escalate the crisis. Hope for such an off ramp came late Wednesday, when Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social to announce that he and Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary general, were working on a deal that could resolve the dispute over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He suggested that tariffs he had previously threatened to impose on European nations starting Feb. 1 would no longer kick in.

But neither he nor NATO provided any details of what that framework might look like, and there is no guarantee that such a deal will be finished. A member of the Danish parliament from Greenland called the deal into question in a social media post, saying it had created “total confusion.”

The dust had not yet settled Wednesday night. But one thing was clear. Mr. Trump’s comments throughout the day underscored just how little the United States and Europe — long the closest of allies — now have in common. » | Steven Erlanger and Jeanna Smialek | Steven Erlanger reported from Berlin, and Jeanna Smialek from Brussels. | Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Homosexuality in Europe Between Two Dictatorships I PART 1 | SLICE WHO

Jan 19, 2026 | In 1920s Europe, before fascism reshaped the continent, a brief moment of freedom emerged.

From small-town France to Parisian cabarets, Pilou’s story reveals a hidden world rarely documented. A portrait of queer life before repression returned.

In 1920s Europe, before fascism reshaped the continent, a brief moment of freedom emerged. Through personal photos and journals, this documentary traces the life of a young gay man (Pilou) discovering desire, identity, and artistic expression in the Roaring Twenties.

Documentary : Snapshot Of History EP:20 Pierre Louis
”Pilou”, Homosexuality in the Interwar Years
Direction : Delphine Deloget
Production : Bonne Compagnie

Trump Is Pushing the U.S.-Europe Alliance Onto a Precipice

THE NEW YORK TIMES: As President Trump tries to coerce European leaders over Greenland, they are pondering the unthinkable: Is an 80-year-old alliance doomed?

What happens to an 80-year-old diplomatic alliance when its leading power threatens a military invasion of one member, wages economic war on the others and vows to cultivate political and cultural resistance to their governments? Is the alliance doomed?

That question is being asked in capitals across Europe as leaders rush to respond to President Trump’s rapidly escalating campaign to acquire Greenland over the objections of the people who live there. At issue most urgently is whether resisting Mr. Trump’s territorial ambitions risks damaging Europe’s relationship with the United States beyond repair.

Some leaders — like President Emmanuel Macron of France and Lars Klingbeil, Germany’s finance minister — appear willing to take that risk, urging Europe’s nations to consider deploying an economic “bazooka” in response to Mr. Trump’s latest tariff threats.

Leaders from across Europe are expected to gather in Brussels this week to present a united response to Mr. Trump’s provocations. Veteran observers of European politics said the alliance between Europe and the United States that formed in the aftermath of World War II had already been fundamentally altered.

It is no longer an alliance designed primarily to advance the interests of like-minded democracies, they said. Instead, it is a relationship on Mr. Trump’s terms alone — one in which he wields the leverage that comes from American power to force Europeans to cater to his whims. » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from Oxford, England | Monday, January 19, 2026

Greenland: Will Europe Fight Trump or Surrender

Jan 19, 2026 | Donald Trump wants Greenland - and he’s willing to use tariffs to get it. If European allies refuse to sell, the US president has threatened to escalate trade penalties, weaponising economic pressure rather than military force.

The proposal has sparked alarm across Europe, with some leaders calling for the EU to deploy its so-called “trade bazooka” in response.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that a trade war benefits nobody.

Europe Warns Trump of “Dangerous Downward Spiral” and Threatens Tariff Retaliation | BBC News

Jan 18, 2026 | European leaders have united in condemning President Trump’s threat of new tariffs against allies who oppose his plan to annex Greenland. A joint statement of European leaders said: “Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral”. The statement, signed by the leaders of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland said: “We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”

The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, told the US president in a phone call that he was wrong to make such a threat against NATO allies.

The EU made clear it could impose retaliatory tariffs on American goods or even consider economic sanctions against the United States if the US tariffs were imposed. The head of the European Council announced an emergency summit and said the EU showed “readiness to defend ourselves against any form of coercion”.

Europe’s stance could place it on a collision course with the US. Trump has said he will place sanctions on eight European nations, including the UK, that have deployed troops to Greenland in response to US threats over its future. Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Nick Beake, Joe Pike, Faisal Islam and Katya Adler.


So much for the UK establishment and our Royal Family toadying up to Trump with that ridiculous and unprecedented second state visit. A fat lot of good it has done us! And think of the cost! Much good for the nation, especially for the needy and underprivilieged, could have been done with that wasted taxpayers’ money. Now, as a thank you, Trump is kicking us in the teeth. — © Mark Alexander

Put European and Canadian Troops in Greenland to Deter US | Richard Shirreff

Jan 19, 2026 | "It's absolutely the future of NATO.”

Former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Sir Richard Shirreff tells Times Radio Europe and Canada should "call the bluff" and put troops into Greenland to deter "any aggression, whether Russian, Chinese, or indeed, American".

Trump Threatens Higher Tariffs on Opponents of Greenland Plan | DW News

Jan 17, 2026 | US president Donald Trump is threatening to impose tariffs on countries that oppose his plan to take over Greenland. The warning comes after several European nations sent small numbers of troops to the Arctic Island -- a semi-autonomous Danish territory. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers visited Denmark, to say that Trump's designs on Greenland don't have the support of the American people. DW's Jack Parrock reports from Brussels.

Troops and Vessels from European NATO Allies Arrive in Greenland | BBC News

Jan 16, 2026 | Troops and ships from several European states are gathering in Greenland. The limited deployment involves Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK.

US President Donald Trump says the US needs to "own" Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so. Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said this week that the territory was in the midst of a geopolitical crisis, and that if his people were asked to make a choice they would choose Denmark over the US.

US vs Europe: How Greenland Became a NATO Crisis as Trump Threatens Tariffs for Non-compliance.

Jan 16, 2026 | Donald Trump’s renewed push to take control of Greenland has escalated from eccentric idea to full-blown transatlantic crisis. By threatening tariffs and refusing to rule out force, the US president is pressuring European allies to “go along” with an unprecedented challenge to NATO norms. This video breaks down how Greenland became a geopolitical flashpoint, why Denmark and Europe are pushing back, and what Trump’s coercive tactics reveal about his approach to alliances, security, and power. As the Arctic opens up and global tensions rise, the fight over a frozen island may say more about the future of NATO than any summit communiqué.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

What Is the Mission of the Troops That Europe Is Sending to Greenland? | DW News

15 Jan 2026 | Denmark is increasing its military presence in and around Greenland with troops from Germany and other European nations. A Danish troop transport plane landed at Greenland's capital, Nuuk, overnight. The arrival of troops is said to be in support of military exercises. But it comes as Donald Trump justifies calls for a US takeover of the territory. He says Greenland can't defend itself against Russia's or China's Arctic ambitions. The announcement came after Denmark's and Greenland's foreign ministers held inconclusive talks in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“Adiós, alcohol!” | ARTE.tv Documentary

13 Jan 2026 | Swapping cocktails for lemonade, spirits for soft drinks. Spain’s Gen Z is more health-conscious than previous generations and is cutting back on alcohol. A trend that’s now visible in other European countries.

One can but shake one’s head! They’ll be looking for the nearest mosque next! Have these young people never heard of the saying, 'everything in moderation'? — © Mark Alexander

Europe Hit by Deep Snow, Frigid Cold and Arctic Winds | DW News

9 Jan 2026 | Heavy winds, snow and freezing temperatures have hit large parts of western Europe. With the arrival of Storm Goretti, forecasters have issued severe weather warnings. Britain’s Met Office has issued a rare red wind warning for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in southwestern England, forecasting strong winds of up to 160 kilometres per hour and dangerous coastal conditions. In France, fierce winds left hundreds of thousands of households without electricity. Germany’s northern regions have also experienced heavy snow and strong winds, disrupting schools, hospitals and transport links.

Mandelson Accuses European Leaders of ‘Histrionic’ Reaction to Trump’s Greenland Stance

THE GUARDIAN: Article by former British ambassador to US is likely to be seen as criticism of Keir Starmer

Peter Mandelson has accused European leaders including Keir Starmer of a “histrionic” reaction to Donald Trump’s plan to take over Greenland, arguing that without “hard power and hard cash” they will continue to slide into unimportance in the “age of Trump”.

In his first political comments since being sacked as Britain’s ambassador to Washington last year, Lord Mandelson said Trump had achieved “more in a day than orthodox diplomacy was able to achieve in the past decade” when he captured the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro.

The intervention is likely to be seen as a criticism of the British prime minister, who has attempted to walk a diplomatic tightrope since the US captured Maduro. This week he signed a statement calling on the US president to respect Danish sovereignty over Greenland after a White House statement said the US was looking into “a range of options” in an effort to acquire Greenland, adding that using the US military to do so was “always an option”. » | Alexandra Topping, Political correspondent | Thursday, January 8, 2026

A ridiculous comment made by a ridiculous man. Even Mandelson must know he is being ridiculous; so, we need to follow the money. — © Mark Alexander

'F**king' Stand Up to Trump | Former US Army General Slams Europe

Jan 7, 2026 | "You got to stand up to bullies."

If Trump tries to "take Greenland" then Europe needs to "stand up" to him and stop buying American airplanes, says former Commanding general of the U.S. First Army, Lieutenant General Russel L Honoré.


For a draft dodger with bone spurs, Trump really has taken to his role as Commander-in-Chief, hasn’t he? He dodged the draft because he was afraid of fighting, afraid of dying, but he has no problem sending other people’s children into harm’s way to risk their lives so that he can enrich himself, his family, and his cronies.

One can give all sorts of fancy names for his modus operandi. One can call it transactional and use fancy Latin terms such as quid pro quo to describe his dealings. But isn’t the hard reality so that Trump is lining his own pockets? Isn’t it true to say that he is profiteering? Isn’t it true to say that Trump is using his stint in the White House as a cash cow?

Trump struggled to make money as a businessman. But he has really come into his own as a politician! As a politician, he is amassing wealth he could only have dreamt of as a realtor in New York.

I have always said that government cannot be run properly as a business. And for this very reason, businessmen make poor politicians. For the businessman, the bottom line is always profit. For a successful politician, this should never be so. A good and successful politician, a political leader, should never run government as a profitable business. There is much more to successful politics than that. Trump in office proves the point I have been making for many years. People with a businessman’s mindset have no business being in politics. Period. — © Mark Alexander

Europe Backs Denmark over President Trump's Threats to Annex Greenland | Global News Podcast

Jan6, 2026 | The issue of Greenland's future has resurfaced in the wake of the US military intervention in Venezuela.

President Donald Trump has again insisted that the US "needed" Greenland for security reasons and has refused to rule out the use of force to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

At a meeting in Paris today, European leaders rallied to Greenland's defence - issuing a joint statement saying Greenland belongs to its people, and that they will defend Greenland's territorial integrity.

The BBC's James Waterhouse has been following the story from Paris.


To hell with Trump! To hell with Trump’s henchmen and henchwomen! And to hell with America! Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. Only the Greenlanders and the Danes can determine its future.

The sooner that we Europeans unite and build an extremely strong military to be able to defend ourselves, the better. America is no longer our ally. Only a fool would consider America as an ally now. — © Mark Alexander

Europe’s Failure to Condemn Trump’s Illegal Aggression in Venezuela Isn’t Just Wrong – It’s Stupid

THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: The more European countries act as colonies, unable and unwilling to stand up to Trump, the more they’ll be treated as such

A screenshot taken from this article. | A protest against the capture of Nicolás Maduro in front of the US embassy in Madrid, Spain, 4 January 2026. Photograph: Olmo Blanco/Getty Images
There is no two without a three, as we say in Italian. After their complicit silence on Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and their tacit acceptance of the US/Israel attack on Iran, Europeans now hesitate to condemn the US’s audacious military operation to bring about regime change in Venezuela. With few notable exceptions – such as Spain, the Netherlands and Norway – most European leaders have fudged their response. Spain, in fact, has acted without its EU partners, condemning the US attack alongside a group of Latin American countries. European governments seem unable to utter in the same breath that, although Nicolás Maduro was an illegitimate dictator, the US attack to topple him is a gross violation of international law.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, at least made reference to international law, while emphasising that they shed no tears for the end of Maduro’s regime. Others, such as the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, strangely talked about looking into the legality of the US military action, as if there were any doubt about its nature. Worse still, Trump-friendly Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni defined this act of external military intervention as “legitimate” self-defence against narco-trafficking.

These are all European leaders, who head liberal democracies and represent institutions that elevate multilateralism and international law as core principles. Why are they so ambiguous about such a gross violation? Even if we set global legal norms aside, does such ambiguity serve the European interest? » | Nathalie Tocci | Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Margaret Thatcher wasn’t right about everything, but she was right about the weakness of many Europeam politicians. She said they were a weak, feeble lot. Their timidity to condemn Trump for trampling over international law and kidnapping its president points to how right Thatcher was about European leaders’ propensity to be weak and feeble. — © Mark Alexander