Trump, Musk, and new territories
Regardless of the psychological warfare and public opinion manipulation tactics typically employed by Donald Trump, his recent statements and tweets regarding territorial matters warrant attention and analysis from more significant angles.
By Mohsen
Zahedi Movahed
Former diplomat
First and foremost, since the beginning of his first presidential term, Trump has pressed Europe to take on a greater role in Western security. He expects Europeans to step up and serve as the primary defensive barrier for the West. From Trump’s perspective, the US bears the brunt of the costs for Western security and power globally, while Europe, despite benefiting from this situation, has long since failed to fulfill its role, which he believes is unsustainable.
This viewpoint seems to be gradually becoming the dominant perspective in the US and has played a crucial role in Trump’s re-election campaign. As a result, it now has strong backing and is being pursued with greater vigor than during his first term. The alignment of Elon Musk and a segment of the new elite (or the new aristocracy) with Trump may partly stem from this perspective. Musk’s recent tweets regarding Europe and even the UK, which have provoked reactions from high-ranking officials in France, Germany, and the UK, serve as strong evidence of this and raise the possibility of a coordinated policy aimed at enacting broader changes.
Thus, recent tweets and statements should not be viewed merely as humorous or trivial actions designed to distract public attention; rather, they represent a fundamental step towards shifting the balance. It appears that, from the American viewpoint, the era of Europe playing both sides and exploiting both ends of the conflict is over. It is essential for Europe to fully embrace its responsibilities on the Western front, which necessitates a thorough house-cleaning across all sectors. This is where the issue of migrants takes on special significance.
Moreover, it is crucial to recognize that the apparent discord between the US and Europe is not a disagreement over Western goals but rather a dispute over the extent of each party’s role and how they will share the burden in upcoming crises. From Trump’s perspective, the first step toward reviving Western civilization is the cleansing of Europe. He views Europe as having long been overrun by migrants, tainting it both intellectually and ethnically, and believes that significant changes in Europe’s domestic and foreign policies are indispensable for a complete return to the Western camp. The rise of the right wing in Europe, which Musk has publicly supported in his tweets, aligns with this agenda.
On a broader scale, one could argue that the creation of the Ukraine crisis and the intensification of Europe’s confrontation with Russia were significant moves in this direction, delivering a profound shock to Europe. One of the tangible outcomes has been Europe’s shift to the right, marked by the gradual departure of influential and independent leaders like Angela Merkel. Consequently, the strengthening of racism and anti-migrant sentiment in Europe is also foreseeable.
Additionally, another critical factor driving these developments is the changing global landscape, characterized by the emergence of new powers and intense competition over world division, which has made American leadership unassailable. This reality has rendered Europe’s stronger involvement in global affairs unavoidable.
In fact, beyond pressuring Europeans to correct their path and tactics, there is another crucial aspect behind Trump and Musk’s recent behaviors and statements: the inevitable need for a shift in world division and power balance in line with a new order that will undoubtedly reveal itself soon. The re-emergence of American 19th-century colonial ambitions is clearly evident, as it seems increasingly impossible to establish a singular dominant power to manage global affairs. Apparently, the Americans are eager to secure more spoils before the new conditions solidify.
It is now abundantly clear that reverting to the old order or previous equations is not feasible for establishing or creating a new system. It seems the race among major and minor powers to find their place in this new order has begun, and given the significance of resources like minerals and water, as well as the strategic importance of territories to access these, hiding political objectives is no longer viable. Clearly articulating goals to achieve them has become imperative.
Furthermore, environmental crises and global warming have made previously inhospitable northern regions, such as northern Canada, Greenland, and Siberia, highly attractive to powers. Particularly in light of their abundant water resources, these areas can be viewed as “new territories” rich in untouched mineral wealth and soon suitable for agriculture.
In this context, if the US fails to secure Russian territories in its competition with China, the untouched lands of Greenland and northern Canada will emerge as the best options. These areas are sparsely populated and hold the potential to transform into a new world, making them significant in the current climate of demographic and environmental crises.
Indeed, these developments are merely the beginning of a trend and a glimpse into the new era that we are stepping into.