Trump has threatened European countries with higher tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland. Will it work

What would Australia and other allies do?

It is doubtful many states would actively defend Greenland against the US. But not many states would actively support it either, and with that turning away from the US as "saviour", world order would have profoundly shifted.

It would likely signal the end of the liberal international order, taking any semblance of international law with it.

All other allies would be put on notice of a rogue ally.

Emboldening Trump would be highly dangerous: Cuba and Iran have already been listed.

More operations in Venezuela would be possible. But he has also made statements about sending troops to Mexico and threatening Colombia.

Canada is already extremely worried, given Trump's claims of making it "the 51st state " in early 2025.

Where would it end?

It would also be worried about risking the AUKUS agreement - a treaty essential for Australian defence.

Taiwan would be questioning the credibility of US protection.

World public opinion, already dangerously low regarding Trump, would plummet further.

For these reasons, it highly likely this is all just bluster from the US to coerce Greenland from Denmark.

Some have explored how US security concerns could be met without annexing Greenland but this is not the point for Trump, who is seeking to appear as the "strong man" to his MAGA supporters.

What appears likely is that European powers will offer concessions so that Trump appears to "win" for his domestic base.

It has been reported that EU officials will propose to use NATO to bolster Arctic security and give the US concessions on mineral extraction.

This is classic appeasement.

Emboldened, we could expect further aggressive US action elsewhere.

The long-term damage would be to US credibility, with all allies on notice of aberrant and erratic behaviour.

Trump's attempts to grasp at resources and forward defences highlights US decline more than anything else.

Europe seems likely to fare little better, revealed to be utterly dependent on the US and a distinct lack of principles for its members.

The real loser is the West: fractured and eating itself.