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President Donald Trump's proposal to annex Greenland has sparked sharp criticism across the U.S. political spectrum, with one Republican lawmaker branding the idea "weapons-grade stupid." The move is not just seen as unconventional—it's being framed as a direct threat to the NATO alliance itself.

Lawmakers Warn of NATO Collapse

Concerns are mounting that a U.S. attempt to seize Greenland would unravel the decades-old military pact. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, warned that such an action could trigger a military confrontation between the United States and its European allies.

"NATO would have an obligation to defend Greenland," Murphy stated. "And so, query whether we would be at war with Europe, with England, with France."

This view was echoed by Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Warner highlighted Greenland's strategic importance and the existing treaty that allows the U.S. significant military latitude on the island.

"If he were to take an action against Greenland, that would completely destroy NATO," Warner said.

Even Republicans have voiced alarm. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana dismissed the proposal as "weapons-grade stupid," signaling bipartisan unease with the president's rhetoric.

Trump’s Rationale: Security and Real Estate

Trump, a former real estate developer, has compared acquiring Greenland to a massive property transaction. He has consistently argued that the United States "needs" to control the semi-autonomous Danish territory, despite a 1951 treaty already giving Washington broad military access.

"It's so strategic," Trump told reporters, claiming, "Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security."

The president recently intensified his calls, suggesting he is prepared to use pressure to secure the territory.

"We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not because if we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland," Trump said. "I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way."

Trump also appeared to question the legitimacy of Denmark's historical claim to the island, which covers 836,000 square miles and has been under Danish control since 1721. "The fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn't mean they own the land," he remarked.

Europe's Firm Stance on Danish Sovereignty

European leaders have rallied behind Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has voiced concerns that an American takeover would effectively end NATO. In response to U.S. security arguments, several NATO members, including the UK and Germany, have started discussions about increasing their own military presence in Greenland.

According to a Bloomberg report, Germany has even proposed a joint NATO mission to protect Greenland and the broader Arctic region. Critically, NATO allies have pushed back on Trump's assertion that Russian and Chinese vessels are operating routinely in the area.

A Challenge to NATO's Core Principle

The controversy strikes at the heart of the NATO charter. Formed over 75 years ago, the alliance is built on the principle of mutual defense: an attack on one member is an attack on all. This commitment, outlined in Article 5, has been a cornerstone of transatlantic stability.

Ironically, Article 5 has only been invoked once in history—in defense of the United States following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

As NATO's own website explains, its "essential and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members." That mandate includes defending Greenland from foreign invasion or annexation, regardless of the source.

Babson College student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza poses wearing a mortarboard after graduating from high school in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., in 2025. massdeportationdefense.org/Handout via REUTERS

A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday urged the Trump administration to resolve a "bureaucratic mess" by issuing a student visa to a college student who was deported to Honduras after being arrested at Boston's airport while trying to visit her family for Thanksgiving.

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns during a hearing in Boston raised that prospect as a "practical solution" to how to resolve a lawsuit by Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old student at Babson College who was sent to Honduras in violation of a court order.

Lopez Belloza, who was brought to the U.S. from Honduras by her parents when she was 8, was arrested on November 20 based on a removal order she says she did not know existed.

Her lawyer filed a lawsuit challenging her detention the next day.

A federal judge in Massachusetts issued an order on November 21 barring Lopez Belloza from being deported or transferred out of Massachusetts for 72 hours.

But by that time, Lopez Belloza had already been flown to Texas, potentially stripping Stearns' court of jurisdiction. She was flown to Honduras on November 22.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter acknowledged the court's order was violated, a development he blamed on a "mistake" by an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement who thought the order no longer applied and failed to properly flag it.

"On behalf of the government, we want to sincerely apologize," Sauter said.

He said there were no grounds to hold anyone in contempt, however. He called it a rare instance of the government not following an order in the over 700 cases filed in Massachusetts by migrants challenging their detention since President Donald Trump took office last year with a hardline immigration agenda.

Stearns, who was appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, commended Sauter for acknowledging the mistake and asked what the remedy should be, saying "we don't want to lose sight that we have a real human being here."

Todd Pomerleau, Lopez Belloza's lawyer, urged Stearns to order the government to facilitate the return of his client and to hold officials in contempt.

"The rule of law ought to matter," Pomerleau said.

Stearns did not immediately rule. But he floated an alternative, recommending the State Department issue Lopez Belloza a student visa allowing her to finish her studies.

"We all recognize a mistake was made," Stearns said. "She's a very sympathetic person, and there should be some means to addressing this."

Source: Reuters

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson has reaffirmed her view that interest rate cuts could be on the table later this year, citing recent inflation data that supports her "cautious optimism."

Speaking at an event with the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Paulson outlined a scenario where inflation continues to cool while the economy remains stable.

"I am feeling cautiously optimistic on inflation, and I see a decent chance that we will end the year with inflation that is close to 2% on a run-rate basis," she stated.

A Conditional Outlook on Monetary Policy

Paulson clarified that any policy adjustments would depend on key economic indicators aligning with projections.

"I see inflation moderating, the labor market stabilizing and growth coming in around 2% this year," she explained. "If all of that happens, then some modest further adjustments to the funds rate would likely be appropriate later in the year."

Her stance aligns with several other Fed policymakers who have favored holding rates steady since the central bank's December meeting to better assess the economic outlook. According to projections released in December, the median official anticipates three quarter-point cuts in 2025, followed by a single cut in 2026.

Balancing Inflation and Labor Market Risks

The latest consumer price data showed inflation at 2.7% for the year through December. While some Fed officials worry about inflation remaining above the 2% target for an extended period, others are focused on signs of weakening job growth.

Paulson emphasized that she is closely monitoring employment trends. "Labor market risks have risen and that has been an important factor in my support for the 75 basis points of cuts that the FOMC did last year," she said. "I will be monitoring labor market developments closely."

She also noted that while many businesses have raised prices in response to tariffs, these pressures are largely concentrated in the goods sector. Paulson described the easing of services inflation as "encouraging" and called recent data on housing inflation "unambiguously good."

Political Pressure Drives Safe Haven Demand

The Safe-Haven Status Struggle for Bitcoin

Gold-to-Bitcoin Ratio Revealed Metric

Technical Analysis: Gold is Strong, Bitcoin is Stalled

Conclusion

Source: fxempire

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has issued a stark warning: Europe must adopt a more assertive economic posture or risk becoming a "pawn of the major powers" in a turbulent global landscape.

Speaking at a DIW Institute event in Berlin, Klingbeil argued that the foundational U.S.-led transatlantic alliance, which has long underpinned European prosperity, is fundamentally breaking apart. He noted that the increasing use of trade policy as a weapon is placing an "extreme burden" on Germany's export-dependent economy.

The Transatlantic Relationship is "Dissolving"

Klingbeil, a co-leader of the Social Democrats and deputy to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasized that Europe can no longer afford to be "naive and blind" about its relationship with the United States. His conviction was strengthened during a recent visit to Washington.

"I believe... that the transatlantic alliance is undergoing a far more profound transformation than we have been willing to admit," he stated. "The transatlantic relationship as we have known it is dissolving."

While he described a recent dinner conversation with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as positive, the overall message was one of urgent realism. To navigate this "new world," Klingbeil insisted the EU "must not shy away from tougher, more far-reaching measures where we are under pressure."

A Call for Assertive European Economic Policy

Klingbeil pointed to existing EU levies on Chinese-made vehicles and steel as examples of the necessary assertiveness Europe must embrace. He stressed that international competitors are actively undermining the continent's economic strength.

"Our competition is not sleeping; it is deliberately attacking our competitiveness," he said. "And that is why I say: We must assert ourselves more strongly than before."

This strategic reevaluation has become a top priority for the ruling coalition of Merz's conservatives and Klingbeil's SPD, which came to office in May. The government has been forced to reassess its ties with major trading partners, including the U.S. and China, as they adopt increasingly protectionist policies.

Germany's Uphill Economic Battle

The urgency of this geopolitical shift is underscored by Germany's own economic challenges. The federal statistics office is set to release its first estimate for 2025 GDP, with economists forecasting meager annual growth of just 0.2%.

This would mark the first expansion since 2022, following two years of contraction. GDP is projected to grow by approximately 1% this year, as government stimulus measures begin to take hold.

To counter the slowdown, Klingbeil highlighted his government's aggressive domestic strategy. "We have launched the largest investment offensive in our country's history," he explained. "With €500 billion for infrastructure and at least as much again for defense, we're providing a strong government stimulus."

These efforts, which also include a package of corporate tax incentives, are part of the government's push to revive Europe's largest economy amid unprecedented global challenges.

A change in leadership could unlock a dramatic resurgence in Venezuela's oil industry, with a new forecast predicting crude output could surge by roughly 50% over the next decade. According to industry consultant Enverus, this would mark a significant return for the Caribbean nation, home to some of the world's largest crude reserves, to the global energy market.

Gauging the Production Potential

Enverus, one of the oil industry's premier forecasting firms, projects that production could reach approximately 1.5 million barrels a day by 2035. This analysis is among the first to model a post-Maduro oil landscape for Venezuela.

The potential for growth is substantial. If political stability and investment conditions improve, Enverus outlines a high-case scenario where Venezuela's total output could climb to 3 million barrels a day by 2035.

The Steep Climb: Overcoming Years of Neglect

A comeback of this scale faces significant hurdles. Venezuela's recent output has fluctuated near 1 million barrels per day, far below its 1970s peak of almost 4 million barrels. Reviving the industry would require companies to rebuild or replace abandoned rigs, repair leaky pipelines, and restore fire-ravaged equipment.

Beyond infrastructure, oil executives are seeking clear legal frameworks, guarantees for their investments, and security for their employees before committing capital.

Big Oil's Cautious Stance

President Donald Trump has called on US oil companies to channel at least $100 billion into reviving Venezuela's energy sector. Following a White House meeting with nearly 20 industry representatives, it's clear that while the opportunity is recognized, major players are proceeding with caution.

Exxon Mobil Corp. Chief Executive Darren Woods told Trump that the South American country is currently "uninvestable," a sentiment that echoes warnings from other industry leaders. However, Woods also expressed confidence that the Trump administration could deliver the legal and regulatory reforms needed for any future investment.

For now, Exxon's arch-rival, Chevron Corp., remains the only major international oil company with active operations in Venezuela.

Market Impact: Bracing for New Supply

While producers deliberate, oil traders and US refiners are already positioning themselves for access to Venezuelan crude. Trump has said Venezuela will relinquish as much as 50 million barrels of its oil for the US to sell, and trading houses Trafigura Group and Vitol Group are preparing to move the crude. The sudden availability of 50 million barrels would represent one of the largest unexpected supply flows in years.

Short-Term Glut vs. Long-Term Deficit

Despite the potential influx, Enverus expects the added barrels will not greatly impact the price of Brent, the global crude benchmark. The market is already grappling with a forecast glut for this year, which is expected to transition into supply shortfalls later in the decade.

"Even with accelerated sanctions relief, we still see 1–2 million barrels per day of global oversupply in the first half of 2026 and limited incremental volumes from Venezuela," said Al Salazar, head of macro research at Enverus.

The long-term outlook is different. "Long-term global oil balances are projected to face a deficit of 2 million barrels per day by 2035, creating space for Venezuela's incremental supply without materially impacting prices," Enverus concluded.