“Kings, and Persons of Sovereign authority, because of their Independency, are in continual jealousies… having their weapons pointing, and their eyes fixed on one another.” Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
International Relations is not some new term thought up by a “woke” celebrity. Thomas Hobbes, who is said to be the philosopher-mind behind strict realism in foreign policy, recognized the importance of relationships. He believed “all acts are ultimately self-serving–that in a state of nature, humans would behave completely selfishly. He concludes that humanity’s natural condition is a state of perpetual war, fear, and amorality, and that only government can hold a society together.”
The “government” we have relied on for almost 80 years is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Yes, we have relied on ourselves, but we have understood that we cannot stand astride the globe ordering nations around. Humanity won’t allow it.
So let me go from 17th-century Hobbes to today and to NATO. When we think of Europe, we are likely to think of a special moment in Paris where we gather with friends at a sidewalk cafe. Or, an awe-inspiring vista in Norway. Yes, that too is NATO, which is a voluntary coalition of mostly like-minded nations to encourage peace while being prepared for war. It spans the North Atlantic Ocean while also coordinating with non-NATO, but like-minded Asian nations.
And if I look at the fiscal affairs of NATO, the United States is the largest contributor (approximately 16%) but our defense industries prosper as NATO nations are among the biggest customers.
As large and strong as the U.S. is, we, from time to time, have gone to war to defend ourselves. And we do so confident that our allies will be with us. In the Afghanistan War, almost 1,000 Danish troops joined us.
Denmark is much in the news today because President Trump has said the U.S. intends to take its territory known as Greenland. Trump’s solo act has resulted in France and Germany sending troops to Greenland. Trump has weaponized foreign policy and aimed it at NATO. Hobbes’s darker side would reflexively understand.
Trump claims we need Greenland as a defensive barrier against China and Russia. We have a military base in Greenland and its leaders have invited a broader and deeper relationship. But take it from our ally Denmark?
You might recall that the President also began his new term by insulting Canada. He said Canada was our 51st State and then began discriminatory moves in trade. The result is an estimated loss of $4 to $6 billion in tourism and deep trade revenue losses, even though exact figures are not available.
Yes, the President leaned into NATO allies, telling them to step up in both financial support and their own defense expenditures. If NATO is a shared responsibility, and it is, that was a good move. But Trump has now weaponized foreign policy and turned the gun on us.
Now Trump says we need a 50% increase in defense spending in the 2027 budget—from $901 billion in 2026 to $1.5 trillion in 2027. Maybe we are going to take on the world by ourselves. Facing a $38 trillion dollar national debt this kind of leap is not only excessive it is suicidal.
And what about comity, “considerate behavior toward others”. We know in our lives and complexity of associations that considerate behavior pays dividends. Yet at some point Trump went from merely self-serving to head scratching paranoia. Even his political friends are pushing back on Greenland.
Politics is the only answer. The sooner he is a lame duck and treated like one his power will be diminished. I hate to suggest that, but when the Chief acts like Dr. Strangelove, something must be done.
Let me end where I began with Thomas Hobbes. Why would America want to be complicit in creating a Hobbesian environment? It makes no sense. Those who represent us in Washington need to push back—hard.
So let me give the final word to Professor Barnislav Slanthev, University of California, San Diego.
“To the idiots blabbering blithely about Greenland and “U.S. doesn’t need NATO,” do us all a favor and check what U.S. power projection requires and what losing our presence in Europe, with all the bases and logistical infrastructure to support global deployments, would entail. Next check what it would cost us to man all the resulting gaps in the Atlantic and Arctic defense, and explain where we’re going to build substitute ports and bases if we wish to retain a foothold in the Middle East. I know you people seem to think that the U.S. magically teleports entire brigades thousands of miles away or that aircraft carriers can just float around for years on their own, but this is truly unserious bullshit. If you thought America was spending “too much” on defense because of NATO, just wait until you learn what we would have to spend without NATO to maintain even a fraction of our global influence.”
Losing NATO — which is what will happen if we attempt to coerce Denmark (read Article I) — will be the surest and fastest way to global decline. Now, if you are Russia or China, you would surely welcome this. But if you are an American, you wouldn’t.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
