COPENHAGEN (AP) — Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service has issued a stark assessment of shifting global power dynamics in its latest annual report, highlighting the United States’ increasingly assertive use of economic leverage and military threats under the Trump administration. The comprehensive analysis details how Washington’s unilateral approach is reshaping international relations with both allies and adversaries.
The report identifies growing great power competition in the Arctic as particularly concerning for Denmark, a NATO and EU member. This regional tension has intensified since President Trump expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, Denmark’s mineral-rich semi-autonomous territory—a proposition strongly opposed by Russia and European nations. The assessment notes that Russia is simultaneously strengthening its military capabilities in response to NATO’s Arctic activities.
This analysis aligns with the Trump administration’s recently released national security strategy, which characterizes European allies as weak while emphasizing America’s renewed dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The Danish intelligence service observes that this approach has created uncertainty among global partners, with many nations now considering strategic agreements with China as a viable alternative to American partnerships.
The report further notes that the United States has demonstrated willingness to employ military force against allies, citing Trump’s refusal to rule out military action in Greenland despite the existing U.S. military presence there. Additionally, the administration’s deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific have raised concerns about adherence to international law.
This strategic shift has created opportunities for regional powers to maneuver between American and Chinese influence, fundamentally altering the global balance of power and challenging Western hegemony.