On 4 April 1949, 12 nations signed a treaty to establish collective security, combat totalitarianism, and strengthen transatlantic ties: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. That treaty came to be known as the North Atlantic Treaty, now more commonly known as NATO. 

Now, 77 years later, that same alliance is under threat. The United States of America, under the rule of Donald Trump, is threatening to take control of Greenland, while US officials have refused to rule out military action. 

This is truly the darkest timeline. NATO was established to maintain security across the Atlantic and strengthen the ties that bind us. However, Trump has made clear that those ties are not just weak but completely obliterated, existing only when the price is right for Trump and his cronies. 

Trump’s refusal to respect sovereignty and international law must be a wake-up call for those who have comforted themselves with the idea that he “would never do anything to us”. He already targets our institutions, strong-arming the NHS into a deal that would raise the price the NHS pays for new medicines by 25%, and carrying out funding cuts, leading some UK universities to cancel research projects due to his “assault on science“. 

This is Trump toting his soft power. He is showing us “this is what I can do without raising a finger”. His approach to Ukraine, his attack on Venezuela, his military threats against Denmark are overt displays of his hard power; pulling military support, carrying out invasions and claiming dominion over an entire nation, and then willing threaten further military action against an ally, it all adds up to the same conclusion: Donald Trump does not care about international law, and Donald Trump will not stop until his vision is achieved. 

Where should the UK stand on this situation? While the Prime Minister has made some positive remarks about “the future of Greenland“, Denmark’s leader has gone a step further in confirming that, if the US attacks Denmark, Denmark will defend itself. While warm words are nice, this is far from an Article 5 statement. We must make it clear: NATO will not flinch in protecting its members, even against one another. 

It is not only the liberal position but also the correct position to support Denmark in the event of an American invasion. We are allies, both NATO and European. We share not only a continent, but also values and principles. The phrase “fascism” is often overused in online circles, but Trump’s actions and rhetoric warrant it; he is leading a fascist regime and is threatening to launch a fascist invasion of Denmark. We are already seeing a fascist invasion from the East, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The UK cannot remain silent, nor can we ignore the bleak reality unfolding on our continent. If we do not take the lead in defending Europe’s future now, we will be forced to do so by a world war.

Liberalism is not a mood; it is a commitment. International law, sovereignty, and human rights survive only when the democracies that uphold them are willing to defend them. If we do not draw a line here, we will be left negotiating from the floor later.

* Jack Meredith is a member of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and an active campaigner and canvasser with Swansea and Gower Liberal Democrats. His writing focuses on democratic reform, social justice, trade unionism, economic democracy, and the institutional foundations of effective government. He has written for the Fabians, Lib Dem Voice, Liberator, Nation Cymru, Bylines Cymru, and Centre Think Tank.