Elizabeth Graham, an author with extensive experience studying Russia and former intelligence work, contends that President Donald Trump's recent statements about Greenland have created unprecedented tension in transatlantic relations. In a Substack post titled 'Deception At Davos,' Graham analyzes Trump's appearance at the World Economic Forum where he discussed Greenland, noting that while Europeans were reassured by his statement "I will not use force to take Greenland," they may not recognize the deceptive pattern in his rhetoric.
Graham draws parallels between Trump's approach to Greenland and his actions regarding Venezuela, where he announced plans to manage the country and control its gas and oil industry after justifying intervention with misleading claims about drug trafficking. According to Graham, Trump's true motivation for Greenland involves securing rare earth minerals critical for modern manufacturing, particularly since China dominates the global rare earth magnet market and has implemented export controls in response to Trump's tariffs. As Graham notes, "China dominates the global rare earth magnet market, controlling most processing and manufacturing, which gives it significant leverage in high-tech industries like EVs, wind turbines, plane engines, and defense" according to Wikipedia.
The author warns that Trump's pattern of deception could have severe consequences, pointing to what she describes as devastating outcomes from previous policies. She references an NPR report from July 1, 2025, suggesting tragic consequences from the closure of USAID, though she provides no specific citation for this claim. Graham argues that Europe must prevent Trump from gaining control of Greenland to avoid further territorial expansion through misleading promises, comparing his behavior to historical land grabs by authoritarian leaders.
Graham's analysis is informed by her background, including eight years studying Russia at SAIC's Foreign Systems Research Center and living experience in the Soviet Union and Russia. Her work is available through her Substack at egraham.substack.com and her book 'From Democracy To Democrazy' on Amazon. She has also announced an upcoming book titled 'Survival: Democracy's Struggle To Survive' featuring contributions from several authors examining the relationship between Trump and Putin.
