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Anxy

(91 posts)
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 11:08 AM Jan 18

I think Europe will fight (militarily) to defend Taiwan from China. Not to defend Greenland

Here is my prediction. If Donald Trump decides to take over Greenland, he will do so without military resistance.

On the other hand, if China tries to take over Taiwan, Europe will send troops to defend Taiwan and enter war along with the United States.

What do you guys think?

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I think Europe will fight (militarily) to defend Taiwan from China. Not to defend Greenland (Original Post) Anxy Jan 18 OP
Europe has already sent troops to defend Greenland SSJVegeta Jan 18 #1
Post removed Post removed Jan 18 #4
I think you have no evidence to support your opinion. Nt Fiendish Thingy Jan 18 #2
Pretty sure an invasion of Taiwan would be an aerial and Naval event. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 18 #20
I'm skeptical of your theory ornotna Jan 18 #3
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 18 #5
All of it ornotna Jan 18 #7
What does your polls say? Emile Jan 18 #6
We'll stand by and let China take Taiwan, if anything. Xavier Breath Jan 18 #8
Nah, Trump won't fight China - TBF Jan 18 #9
The exact opposite of what you think. Dan Jan 18 #10
Exactly what would "Europe" use to defend Taiwan? Chuuku Davis Jan 18 #11
Trying to understand. So, Trump will attack a NATO country and other NATO members will not push back surfered Jan 18 #12
Welcome to DU Prairie Gates Jan 18 #13
What specifically leads you to these conclusions? Torchlight Jan 18 #14
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 18 #18
The EU combined has more troops than the US SSJVegeta Jan 18 #23
The difference there is an alliance with the US iemanja Jan 18 #15
Greenland is just rhetoric. China is a real threat to invade Taiwan Buckeyeblue Jan 18 #16
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 18 #17
Trump is mentally ill. But Trump needs affirmation Buckeyeblue Jan 18 #19
How? hardluck Jan 18 #21
Carney did say he will be willing to go to war over Greenland SSJVegeta Jan 18 #22
NATO countries are obligated to defend Greenland from the US Wiz Imp Jan 18 #24

SSJVegeta

(2,537 posts)
1. Europe has already sent troops to defend Greenland
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 11:10 AM
Jan 18

Canada has already threatened war with the US without any kind of invasion, but as a result of Trump’s rhetoric and threats alone.

Response to SSJVegeta (Reply #1)

Response to ornotna (Reply #3)

ornotna

(11,435 posts)
7. All of it
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 12:27 PM
Jan 18

When people post strange ideas and then immediately rec themselves is a big alarm for me.

You don’t seem to have attracted many to this one.

TBF

(35,985 posts)
9. Nah, Trump won't fight China -
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 12:45 PM
Jan 18

he'll let them do what they want while he is setting up his new bases in Greenland. He clearly thinks that he should rule the Americas, while Russia and China divvy up the rest.

Chuuku Davis

(604 posts)
11. Exactly what would "Europe" use to defend Taiwan?
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 01:19 PM
Jan 18

They have three aircraft carriers and might be able to send one. Submarines will be important.
If it occurs it will be F35s, drones, submarines, missile frigates, and missiles.

surfered

(12,336 posts)
12. Trying to understand. So, Trump will attack a NATO country and other NATO members will not push back
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 01:50 PM
Jan 18

Yet those same countries will defend Taiwan despite not being members of SEATO, south east Asia treaty organization?

Response to Torchlight (Reply #14)

SSJVegeta

(2,537 posts)
23. The EU combined has more troops than the US
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:08 PM
Jan 18

Their economic potential is greater due to having a larger population to draw from, and “fear of a country”(appeasement) already resulted in so much devastation on their continent less than a century ago. This economic potential creates the opening for an even larger industrial complex than the US -or any country, has been able to create (as the US continues to purge key foundations of our economic strength contributed by immigrants and the historical diversity of this country)

The evil of appeasement, though, was largely responsible for insemination of the largest, most cohesive economic union in history. Their identity is built on not being afraid of a crazy person invading one of their countries -and the massive pain resulting.

Only an idiot would test that resolve.

Buckeyeblue

(6,280 posts)
16. Greenland is just rhetoric. China is a real threat to invade Taiwan
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 02:02 PM
Jan 18

It's a very difficult invasion for China. Taiwan has a number of defense mechanisms in place. But at some point it seems like they will try.

Is it worth WWIII to defend Taiwan? Would we be willing to risk attacks to the US to defend Taiwan? Maybe from a strategic standpoint it is worth that risk.

Response to Buckeyeblue (Reply #16)

Buckeyeblue

(6,280 posts)
19. Trump is mentally ill. But Trump needs affirmation
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 03:23 PM
Jan 18

He was able to justify kidnapping Maduro because he was both under indictment and was not the elected leader of Venezuela. I'm not justifying it. I'm just pointing out the circumstances that the administration could use to justify it. We have nothing like that in place for Greenland.

I'm probably wrong but I think going into Greenland would be the last straw with many Republicans in Congress.

hardluck

(765 posts)
21. How?
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 03:48 PM
Jan 18

With what troops? What material? What long distance aerial lift capabilities? What sealift capabilities? What air refueling abilities? What AWACS capability? What naval capabilities? The US arguably does not have the sealift capabilities for a short-term or prolonged action in the Western Pacific. Europe has no shot.

These are just off the top of my head. And each has various subparts.


SSJVegeta

(2,537 posts)
22. Carney did say he will be willing to go to war over Greenland
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:01 PM
Jan 18

Denmark said they will shoot first and ask questions later.


But the consequences to an invasion -even if “no shot is fired” will result in levels of US economic devastation we haven’t seen (loss of trade agreements, EU withdrawing their trillions in treasury investments, etc).

You are talking about a group of nations built on the enormous loss of life and pain of World War Two: a war largely the result of allowing an idiot to take over land without any pushback, and trusting a known liar (appeasement). It would be quite stupid to test their resolve with possibly the one action that built their union.

Wiz Imp

(9,281 posts)
24. NATO countries are obligated to defend Greenland from the US
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:23 PM
Jan 18

If Trump tries to attack, Europe will absolutely defend it.

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