Elizabeth Graham, a bestselling author with expertise on U.S.-Russia relations, has issued a warning about the deteriorating state of transatlantic relations following President Donald Trump's recent statements regarding Greenland. In a Substack post titled 'Deception At Davos,' Graham argues that Trump's proposal to acquire Greenland has created unprecedented tension between the United States and European allies, with potentially far-reaching consequences for global stability and resource security.
According to Graham, European leaders have attempted diplomatic engagement with Trump through various gestures over the past year, including commitments to purchase American goods and high-level meetings. However, Trump's suggestion that he would "take Greenland by force if necessary" during discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos has fundamentally damaged these relationships. Graham notes that while Americans have grown accustomed to Trump's misleading statements, European leaders were particularly attentive to his remarks and subsequent questions, with many being temporarily reassured by his statement that he would not use force—a promise Graham believes Trump has no intention of keeping.
The author draws parallels between Trump's approach to Greenland and his previous actions regarding Venezuela, where he announced intentions to manage the country and control its gas and oil industry after justifying military action as necessary to prevent drug trafficking. Graham references a New York Times report from January 8, 2026, which noted that "the primary mode of trafficking drugs to the United States from Venezuela is by air - not by boats," suggesting Trump's justifications may be misleading.
Graham identifies Greenland's strategic importance as lying in its abundance of untapped rare minerals used in manufacturing magnets for aircraft engines, electric cars, trains, and advanced technical equipment. She notes that "China dominates the global rare earth magnet market, controlling most processing and manufacturing," giving it significant leverage in high-tech industries. Following Trump's implementation of increased tariffs on Chinese goods, China tightened export controls on rare earth elements and magnets, creating supply chain vulnerabilities that Trump may be attempting to address through control of Greenland's resources.
The author further connects these economic maneuvers to broader humanitarian concerns, stating that Trump's closure of USAID has resulted in devastating consequences in Africa, where "the death toll could be as high as 14 million souls" according to an NPR report from July 1, 2025. Graham characterizes Trump's approach as consistently deceptive, noting that he "behaves like a friend one moment and an enemy the next" while constantly seeking ways to accumulate wealth for himself and his family, citing a PBS report that "Trump and his family has received $1.4 Billion dollars due to his presidency in 2025."
Graham warns that if Europe does not prevent Trump from gaining control of Greenland, it remains uncertain which country he might target next, drawing historical parallels to "Hitler's landmass grab in the 1930's and 40's or Stalin's creation then called the USSR." She emphasizes that Trump's deceptive tactics represent a fundamental threat to international norms and stability, with the potential to escalate into broader conflict.
The author's analysis is informed by her extensive background, including twelve years at SAIC's Foreign Systems Research Center where she managed the largest Russian-language military, technical and intelligence database in the U.S., and her firsthand experience living under Communist systems in the Soviet Union and Russia. More information about her perspective is available in her book 'From Democracy To Democrazy: A Warning To All Americans,' now available at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Elizabeth-Graham/author/B0CMY189NT?, with additional resources at her website https://democrazy2020.org/.
Graham has also announced an upcoming book titled 'Survival: Democracy's Struggle To Survive,' scheduled for release in 2026, which will feature contributions from various authors analyzing the relationship between Trump and Putin and its impact on global politics since 2015. The book represents what Graham describes as "an exhaustively explored and thoroughly investigated analysis of the deep, dark, clandestine linkage between Trump and Putin - a relationship which has plagued world politics and dismantled the United States government since 2015."
