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Global Security Situation Brief

21/01/2026

Greenland

  • In a series of posts on his Truth Social account late at night, President Donald Trump once again threatened to annex Greenland and stated that he would meet with European leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss the escalating crisis. He is expected to arrive at the forum on Wednesday. In one of the posts, he mentioned that he had informed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte: Greenland is crucial to national and global security. There is no turning back. Trump also posted an AI-generated image at 12:58 a.m., depicting him standing in the Oval Office, showing a map to his aides where the United States, Canada, and Greenland are all covered by the American flag. (Financial Times)
  • According to a report by CNN, on social media, Trump also posted screenshots of private messages he received from world leaders regarding the Greenland issue, including a message from French President Macron, which read: I don't understand what you are doing in Greenland.
  • Trump also criticized the UK's decision to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move his administration had previously supported. He called the decision extremely foolish. He also stated that this is another reason why the United States needs to acquire Greenland. (ABC)
  • During the weekend, Trump continued to advance U.S. control over Greenland, a move that could completely rupture U.S.-Europe relations. According to Michael D. Shear of The New York Times, after Trump threatened economic coercion and military invasion against NATO allies, senior European political observers stated that the transatlantic alliance formed after World War 2 has undergone fundamental changes.
  • On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that if the United States fails to reach an agreement to purchase Greenland, he will first impose a 10% tariff on all goods exported to the U.S. from certain European countries in February. He also threatened to raise the tariff rate to 25% in June. These threats have disrupted months-long trade negotiations between the United States and Europe. (The Guardian)
  • In response, European capitals are considering imposing tariffs of 93 billion euros on the United States. Officials involved in the preparations stated that these retaliatory measures are designed to give European leaders greater bargaining power during key meetings with the U.S. President at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos. (Financial Times)
  • Trump stated in a text message to the Norwegian Prime Minister that, since he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, he no longer feels obligated to think purely about peace. Therefore, for the benefit of the United States, he is pursuing complete control over Greenland. The White House forwarded this text message to several European ambassadors in Washington. (Associated Press)
  • Following escalating threats from the United States over the weekend, Denmark dispatched additional troops to Greenland on Monday. (Financial Times)
  • Last weekend, thousands of people marched in Copenhagen to protest Trump's escalating threats. The crowd waved Greenland flags and chanted, 'Greenland is not for sale.' Many demonstrators wore red hats, mimicking Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan, with the hats reading, 'Make America Go Away.' (NPR)
  • According to reports from the Financial Times citing officials and diplomats, last week Europe deployed a small number of troops to Greenland for Arctic security exercises. Some European officials believe this move was misunderstood by Washington and fueled retaliatory rhetoric and tariff threats from Trump. The action was framed as a show of solidarity with Denmark and a signal on Arctic security, but some diplomats stated that the message was too subtle or easily misinterpreted, while others doubted that even with repackaging, Trump's reaction would have been any different.

Trump's "Peace Commission"

  • According to AP reporter Matthew Lee, the Trump administration announced, while facilitating a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, that it would establish a peace committee to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. However, last weekend, Trump made it clear that he intends to assign the committee a more ambitious mission, which could potentially rival the United Nations, thereby posing a significant impact on the post-World War 2 international order.
  • The Times of Israel published the full text of the committee's charter and stated that the charter was attached to the invitation letters sent to dozens of world leaders, inviting them to join Trump on the committee responsible for overseeing the post-war management of Gaza.
  • Trump has appointed himself as the chairman of this international organization and granted himself veto power. He invited world leaders to join the council, stating that if they contribute $1 billion, they can secure a permanent seat, while countries that do not pay membership fees will only receive a three-year provisional membership. On Friday, Trump announced the seven members of the founding executive committee, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The other three members are World Bank President Ajay Banga, Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel, and billionaire private equity CEO Mark Rowan. (The Washington Post)
  • France rejected Trump's proposal to join the Peace Commission, and Trump responded on Monday by threatening to impose a 200% tariff on French wine. The office of French President Macron issued a statement saying that the commission's charter goes beyond the scope of Gaza and raises serious issues, particularly regarding United Nations principles and structures, which are non-negotiable. (POLITICO)
  • According to Reuters, two informed sources revealed that Israel has also received an invitation, but it remains unclear whether Israel has accepted it.
  • Trump hopes to hold a signing ceremony for the peace committee in Davos this week, and the Greenland crisis has also turned this week's annual gathering of global elites into an emergency diplomatic summit. (The Washington Post)

Minnesota

  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz mobilized the state's National Guard on Saturday to support local law enforcement and emergency agencies in response to ongoing protests in Minneapolis against federal immigration enforcement actions. Although the National Guard has not yet been deployed to the streets, they remain on standby and ready to assemble. Photos show the National Guard preparing equipment, and they are expected to assist in maintaining public safety and protecting peaceful assemblies should the situation deteriorate. (CNN)
  • The Pentagon confirmed to reporters that up to 1,500 active-duty U.S. soldiers, primarily from two infantry battalions of the 11th Airborne Division stationed in Alaska, have received deployment preparation orders and may be sent to Minnesota for missions. However, the Pentagon has not yet decided whether to actually deploy these troops. (Associated Press)
  • According to sources familiar with the matter, the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey regarding whether their public statements have illegally obstructed federal immigration enforcement. As part of the investigation, the Department of Justice has issued grand jury subpoenas, but the offices of Walz and Frey have not yet received them. Officials stated that the investigation is based on a rarely used Civil War-era obstruction law, which relies on the theory that state and local leaders conspired to interfere with federal law enforcement officers. NBC News reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted this law in a recent memorandum outlining legal tools prosecutors could use to charge individuals identified by the government as domestic extremists. (NBC)
  • On Friday, a federal judge in Minneapolis ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other immigration officials to cease the excessive use of force against demonstrators during operations within the city. The judge's order detailed the manner in which ICE agents treated demonstrators in the city: one demonstrator was detained, had her bra removed, her wedding ring cut off, and some of her clothing has not been returned to this day. 'Arbitrary use' of pepper spray. A couple's car was surrounded by agents who pointed semi-automatic weapons at them at close range. (The New York Times)
  • On Monday, the Trump administration announced it would appeal the judge's preliminary injunction. (The New York Times)
  • The Ministry of Justice also requested the court to allow it to continue deploying additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minnesota. Previously, state and local officials filed a lawsuit last week, claiming that this deployment was unconstitutional. Minnesota had urged a federal judge to immediately block the deployment of 3,000 federal agents, but the judge did not issue a ruling last week. (The New York Times)
  • Several lawyers stated that individuals detained in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota were deprived by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of their constitutional right to meet with an attorney. Matt Rivers, Janice MacDonald, and Armando Garcia reported: Four lawyers told ABC News that they were denied access to meet with their clients, who are currently held at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis.
  • Shortly after Renee Good was killed, the FBI determined there was sufficient reason to launch a civil rights investigation into the actions of Officer Jonathan Ross, who shot Good. However, the Department of Justice stated that no such investigation is currently underway. (The Washington Post)
  • On Sunday, protesters disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota. According to reporting by Lauren McCarthy, Maya Coleman, and Emily Cochrane of The New York Times, demonstrators chanted outside the church, while a pastor at the church also appears to serve as the acting director of the St. Paul Enforcement and Removal Operations office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
  • The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division will launch an investigation into Sunday's church protest, officials said. Assistant Attorney General Hamit Dillon noted that the protest violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. (CNN)

Iran

  • Iran's judicial authorities stated on Sunday that despite Trump hinting there would be no executions, some individuals involved in recent riots could still face the death penalty. Judicial spokesperson Asghar Jahangir indicated that certain actions related to the protests would be considered "moharebeh," meaning enmity against God, a crime punishable by death. He warned that these cases would be prosecuted and punished swiftly. He also stated that anyone who collaborated with the enemy during the riots would be punished according to clear legal provisions. (CNN)
  • According to a relative and a human rights organization, Iranian protester Erfan Soltani is still alive and in good health after being executed on Wednesday. (CNN)
  • A senior Iranian official confirmed that the death toll from last week's protests has exceeded 5,000, including approximately 500 members of the security forces, with the most deadly clashes occurring in the Kurdish-populated areas of northwestern Iran. (Reuters)

Syria

  • After several days of conflict, the Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reached a ceasefire agreement on Sunday. Syrian President Ahmad Shara and SDF commander Mazlum Abdi agreed that the SDF would withdraw from Arab-populated areas, including Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. The agreement also involves the integration of the SDF into the Syrian armed forces, as well as the handover of oil and gas facilities, border crossings, and detention centers.