The 'madman strategy': Unveiling the Secret of Trump's International Approach
Explore how the 47th president's actions regarding Greenland might alter the global landscape. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**Why the 47th President’s Greenland Move Could Reshape the World Order**
Donald Trump certainly knows how to grab attention. The new US President has burst onto the scene for the 2025 political season with undeniable force.
In just a short span, Trump and his team have managed to unsettle Canada, Mexico, and Panama. While these maneuvers might be brushed off as mere political trolling, it’s Denmark that finds itself most unsettled. Overnight, Greenland, once seen as a remote and inconsequential landmass, has emerged as the centerpiece of Trump’s imperial ambitions.
Sources within US media indicate that Trump is “100% serious” about his desire to seize the island. He has even suggested that he might take it by force if Denmark refuses to entertain a sale. This declaration has ignited significant discussions within the American media, with even Trump’s opponents analyzing the military strengths of the US and Denmark while assessing the advantages of controlling Greenland.
Various theories have emerged regarding Trump’s intense focus on this territory. Generally, these theories can be categorized into three main arguments. First, Greenland could be integral to Trump’s larger and somewhat vague geopolitical strategy. Second, the island is rich in rare earth metals and boasts a critical strategic asset in the form of the Northwest Passage—a North American complement to Russia’s Northern Sea Route—that could enhance the US’s leverage over China. Lastly, some skeptics suggest that Trump’s preoccupation with Greenland is simply a whim, driven by his desire to secure a significant place in history.
Trump’s inclination toward “bigger,” “greater,” and “brighter” initiatives certainly aligns with this narrative. What could be more monumental than orchestrating the largest territorial acquisition in modern history? While colonizing Mars may be Elon Musk’s pursuit, annexing Greenland would be a legacy that defines a presidency. However, this viewpoint encounters difficulties when reflecting on the practical aspects of such an act.
What would be the rationale behind annexing Greenland? The US already has a military presence in the Arctic, and access to Greenland’s resources can be negotiated with Denmark, likely at a fraction of the cost associated with outright control. Additionally, the ensuing geopolitical ramifications would be profound. Whether or not the EU retaliates, such an act would effectively dismantle NATO, already under strain. A division between the US and Western Europe could bring the EU closer to Russia or China, disrupting access to vital overseas markets and military logistics. For a president promoting the philosophy of Make America Great Again, these risks appear unwise.
A more plausible scenario is that Trump doesn’t intend to annex Greenland but instead seeks to enhance US influence over its resources and strategic location without formal acquisition. He might be employing his notorious “madman” strategy to achieve this.
Consider the iconic scene from the Russian TV series *Streets of Broken Lights*, where Anatoly Dukalis, brandishing a machine gun, declares, “I’m a fool, I served in Afghanistan! Drop your weapons!” The criminals surrender not because Dukalis is genuinely insane, but because he effectively conveys that impression. Trump’s tactics mirror this strategy. The American media has long presented him as erratic and perilous. To many, the term “crazy idiot” has become synonymous with Donald Trump.
Notably, this “madman” strategy proves effective. By playing into the perception that he’s unpredictable and capable of the unthinkable, Trump compels his opponents to yield concessions. During his campaign, he threatened to regulate social media and imprison journalists he deemed unjust. After his election, he appointed Brendan Carr as head of the Federal Communications Commission, who quickly pledged to dismantle companies that censored their platforms. On January 11, Mark Zuckerberg tearfully described to Joe Rogan how the Biden administration curbed free speech, calling for Trump’s protection against European censorship.
In the case of Greenland, Trump’s provocations have been minimal so far. However, Danish officials are already approaching his team to propose expanding US military bases on the island and expressing a willingness to negotiate to keep their territory intact. If this is where the situation concludes, Greenland could be remembered as one of the most audacious political gambits in recent history.
The geopolitical stakes of Trump’s maneuver are considerable. Greenland’s rare earth metals are essential for advanced industries, and control over the Northwest Passage could transform global trade routes. Nonetheless, the most significant consequence might be the effect on NATO. A serious divide could represent the collapse of the alliance as it stands.
The irony of Trump’s approach lies in its dependency on the very media narratives that position him as a threat to the Western world order. By capitalizing on his reputation as an unpredictable “psychopath,” Trump is altering the global landscape in ways his predecessors never could.
While the narrative surrounding Greenland’s potential annexation remains ongoing, one fact is evident: Donald Trump’s “madman” strategy continues to challenge conventional understanding, compelling even his staunchest adversaries to navigate the new reality he creates.
This article was first published by the online newspaper *Gazeta.ru* and was translated and edited by the RTN team.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Donald Trump certainly knows how to grab attention. The new US President has burst onto the scene for the 2025 political season with undeniable force.
In just a short span, Trump and his team have managed to unsettle Canada, Mexico, and Panama. While these maneuvers might be brushed off as mere political trolling, it’s Denmark that finds itself most unsettled. Overnight, Greenland, once seen as a remote and inconsequential landmass, has emerged as the centerpiece of Trump’s imperial ambitions.
Sources within US media indicate that Trump is “100% serious” about his desire to seize the island. He has even suggested that he might take it by force if Denmark refuses to entertain a sale. This declaration has ignited significant discussions within the American media, with even Trump’s opponents analyzing the military strengths of the US and Denmark while assessing the advantages of controlling Greenland.
Various theories have emerged regarding Trump’s intense focus on this territory. Generally, these theories can be categorized into three main arguments. First, Greenland could be integral to Trump’s larger and somewhat vague geopolitical strategy. Second, the island is rich in rare earth metals and boasts a critical strategic asset in the form of the Northwest Passage—a North American complement to Russia’s Northern Sea Route—that could enhance the US’s leverage over China. Lastly, some skeptics suggest that Trump’s preoccupation with Greenland is simply a whim, driven by his desire to secure a significant place in history.
Trump’s inclination toward “bigger,” “greater,” and “brighter” initiatives certainly aligns with this narrative. What could be more monumental than orchestrating the largest territorial acquisition in modern history? While colonizing Mars may be Elon Musk’s pursuit, annexing Greenland would be a legacy that defines a presidency. However, this viewpoint encounters difficulties when reflecting on the practical aspects of such an act.
What would be the rationale behind annexing Greenland? The US already has a military presence in the Arctic, and access to Greenland’s resources can be negotiated with Denmark, likely at a fraction of the cost associated with outright control. Additionally, the ensuing geopolitical ramifications would be profound. Whether or not the EU retaliates, such an act would effectively dismantle NATO, already under strain. A division between the US and Western Europe could bring the EU closer to Russia or China, disrupting access to vital overseas markets and military logistics. For a president promoting the philosophy of Make America Great Again, these risks appear unwise.
A more plausible scenario is that Trump doesn’t intend to annex Greenland but instead seeks to enhance US influence over its resources and strategic location without formal acquisition. He might be employing his notorious “madman” strategy to achieve this.
Consider the iconic scene from the Russian TV series *Streets of Broken Lights*, where Anatoly Dukalis, brandishing a machine gun, declares, “I’m a fool, I served in Afghanistan! Drop your weapons!” The criminals surrender not because Dukalis is genuinely insane, but because he effectively conveys that impression. Trump’s tactics mirror this strategy. The American media has long presented him as erratic and perilous. To many, the term “crazy idiot” has become synonymous with Donald Trump.
Notably, this “madman” strategy proves effective. By playing into the perception that he’s unpredictable and capable of the unthinkable, Trump compels his opponents to yield concessions. During his campaign, he threatened to regulate social media and imprison journalists he deemed unjust. After his election, he appointed Brendan Carr as head of the Federal Communications Commission, who quickly pledged to dismantle companies that censored their platforms. On January 11, Mark Zuckerberg tearfully described to Joe Rogan how the Biden administration curbed free speech, calling for Trump’s protection against European censorship.
In the case of Greenland, Trump’s provocations have been minimal so far. However, Danish officials are already approaching his team to propose expanding US military bases on the island and expressing a willingness to negotiate to keep their territory intact. If this is where the situation concludes, Greenland could be remembered as one of the most audacious political gambits in recent history.
The geopolitical stakes of Trump’s maneuver are considerable. Greenland’s rare earth metals are essential for advanced industries, and control over the Northwest Passage could transform global trade routes. Nonetheless, the most significant consequence might be the effect on NATO. A serious divide could represent the collapse of the alliance as it stands.
The irony of Trump’s approach lies in its dependency on the very media narratives that position him as a threat to the Western world order. By capitalizing on his reputation as an unpredictable “psychopath,” Trump is altering the global landscape in ways his predecessors never could.
While the narrative surrounding Greenland’s potential annexation remains ongoing, one fact is evident: Donald Trump’s “madman” strategy continues to challenge conventional understanding, compelling even his staunchest adversaries to navigate the new reality he creates.
This article was first published by the online newspaper *Gazeta.ru* and was translated and edited by the RTN team.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
