The recent meeting between Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich highlighted the strained relationship between the U.S. and Europe, particularly under President Trump's administration. With a foreign policy approach that categorizes the Americas, including Greenland, as a sphere of influence, Trump appears to embrace a strategy reminiscent of old-world power politics. This has been described by Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, as living in an era of uncertainty and unpredictability, leading to a fundamental rethinking of alliances and international relationships.

Critics argue that Trump’s understanding of global power dynamics lacks strategic depth and is instead characterized by a blunt 'Gone-Rogue Doctrine' approach. This perspective suggests that Trump advocates for a world divided among a few powerful nations, specifically the U.S., China, and Russia, which echoes a dated view of international relations where such countries decide their respective spheres of influence. The desire for dominance stretches from Greenland through Latin America and indicates a pursuit of tangible material benefits through trade, as well as a personal quest for glory on the world stage.

The implications of this doctrine extend beyond superficial power plays, affecting global security across multiple fronts, including conflicts in Ukraine, Venezuela, Iran, Taiwan, North Korea, and issues like cyber security and climate change. The ongoing series aims to understand what is happening on the ground and its impact on daily lives, drawing insights from over 450 domestic and international experts to paint a comprehensive picture of the geopolitical landscape fraught with tension and uncertainty.