Trump’s Greenland threat is just the beginning of new world order – Peter Zeihan
One year back in office, Trump is rattling Europe with threats and tariffs, while China and Russia sit back and enjoy the show. Even the UK is finding that flattery doesn’t buy protection anymore. So what does this mean for a world that’s starting to tilt fast? Jackie Long speaks with geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan on The Fourcast.
Timeline
0:00 – Intro: Trump’s first year back; allies strained; Zeihan joins
1:51 – Why this was coming anyway: demographics + U.S. strategic pivot
2:44 – Post-WWII order: how the alliance/trade bargain worked, and why it’s unraveling
4:02 – NATO: still viable in theory, but depends on Trump
4:46 – Greenland: Zeihan argues it makes little strategic/economic sense
7:10 – Escalation risk: talk of seizure plans; Europe’s “distract and flatter” tactic
8:45 – Europe’s future: forced to rearm/rebuild capacity sooner than expected
10:53 – Fast-changing warfare + nuclear deterrent talk enters European debate
12:33 – If U.S. attacks an ally: NATO fracture and Nordic relationship damage
16:22 – Europe’s fork: keep Trump close vs build independent power
17:03 – UK bind post-Brexit: U.S. terms vs Europe; “no middle road”
19:40 – U.S. politics: midterms unlikely to constrain Trump much
22:50 – China thesis: demographic collapse + unreliable data; big global knock-ons
28:55 – “Board of Peace” + Iran/Venezuela/Yemen: skepticism about quick fixes
33:06 – Deglobalization next decade: stress, but some countries positioned to win
35:42 – Legacy: Trump breaks institutions; rebuilding is the test (and risk)
