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PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – But could they stop him? Europe has five options for responding to Trump’s Greenland threats. None of them looks good. European negotiators believed they had bought stability in July 2025 amid global trade turmoil sparked by Trump’s liberation day tariffs.
But six months later, as Trump made his intentions regarding Greenland clear, it collapsed.
What are Trump’s latest tariff threats, and could the EU hit back with a “trade bazooka”? The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) allows the EU to respond to what it deems coercive trade tactics by a third country with a broad range of countermeasures. But it is widely seen in Brussels as a “nuclear option” and has never been used.
Trump has a growing stranglehold over the EU and U.K. energy supply. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ensuing sanctions saw much of Europe switch its dependency for energy imports away from Russia and towards the U.S.
Greenland’s prime minister said the Arctic island’s population and its authorities need to start preparing for a possible U.S. military invasion, even as it remains a highly unlikely scenario. President Trump continues to threaten taking over the territory, but has now stated the U.S. won’t use military force.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:
NATIONAL SECURITY
Congress clinches $1.2T funding deal for DHS, Pentagon, domestic agencies, part of bipartisan compromise to fund the vast majority of the federal government ahead of the Jan. 30 shutdown deadline.
Congress passed final legislation to raise and fund increases in military end strength by more than 30,000 troops.
The House and Senate’s conferenced version of the fiscal 2026 defense budget would restore funding for the Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter and up Pentagon’s spending request on the Air Force’s F-47.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Minnesota National Guardsmen will wear bright reflective vests over their camo uniforms, so they won’t be confused with federal law enforcement agencies that wear similar military-style camouflage.
Mexico extradites 37 cartel members to the U.S. in latest offer to the Trump administration, as the U.S. ratchets up pressure on governments to crack down on criminal networks smuggling drugs into the U.S.
DEFENSE POLITICS
1.5 million troops who received an unexpected $1,776 so-called “warrior dividend” payment in December won’t have to pay taxes on that money, the IRS confirmed.
And many more don’t back Kelly. Some 40 ex-military leaders back Sen. Mark Kelly in lawsuit against Pentagon, saying they are “deeply concerned” that War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s disciplinary actions against the retired naval officer could chill the speech of other former service members.
But their disobedience would still be illegal if the order is lawful. The Catholic archbishop responsible for U.S. military personnel said it is “morally acceptable” for service members to disobey an order if it is against their own conscience.
US POWER OVERSEAS
Canada’s military has modeled how it would respond to a U.S. invasion after Trump publicly talked about the country as a potential 51st state.
More than two centuries of British control over the Chagos Islands are coming to an end after the government agreed to cede ownership of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius and pay an annual fee to allow the U.K. and the U.S. to maintain a key military base there on Diego Garcia.
NARCO THREAT/VENEZUELA
U.S. military seized a seventh sanctioned oil tanker connected with Venezuela as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to take control of the South American country’s oil.
IRAN CRISIS
Iran “just getting started” on punishing “rioters” arrested during protests. Iranian officials continue to promise harsh punishments as they trade barbs with Trump amid an ongoing digital blackout.
MIDDLE EAST THREATS
Israel moves the Yellow Line deeper into Gaza, satellite images show. The designated blocks of territory, which are supposed to mark its post-ceasefire line of control, are now deeper into Gaza in several places.
Israeli authorities started bulldozing United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) offices in Jerusalem, part of the country’s crackdown on the global agencies focused on delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians, but also linked to Hamas terrorists.
Syrian forces are hunting ISIS fugitives after dozens escaped from prison in northeastern Syria, as the government moves to take territory from U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters.
CHINA THREAT
A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer and a survey vessel sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the first such crossing confirmed this year.
China is building “full-stack” defense-innovation cities. The city of Baotou is now working to establish entire next-generation production chains.
RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR
Russia warns the U.K. not to interfere with shadow fleet tankers that carry Russian oil from the Baltic to Asia, and must pass near the U.K. and spend days within reach of British forces.
Ukraine’s military is working to replace Chinese-made drones with domestically produced models to cut the war-ravaged nation’s dependence on imports and sanctioned supply lines.
EUROPEAN DEFENSE
Why is Germany trying to build “Europe’s strongest conventional army”? Germans say they want a powerful military and EU nuclear deterrent to replace U.S. hegemony, discomfiting Russia.
The U.K. Army’s next main battle tank, Challenger 3, has successfully fired its main gun for the first time. The new tank to enter service in 2027 is evidence of a pivot back toward armored warfare in response to the growing Russian threat.
French carmaker Renault, in partnership with local defense contractor Turgis Gaillard, will start manufacturing long-range strike drones for the French military.
Italy’s outlay on design and development of tri-nation next-generation GCAP stealth fighter has tripled from $7 billion to $21.8 billion in the last five years.
VIDEO: Hot tips for fighting in cold conditions, according to a Finnish soldier.
US MILITARY
Army’s next-gen Abrams tank has “Formula 1” cockpit and is lighter, more advanced, and on track to be delivered years ahead of schedule, top general says.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Trade bazooka? Go for it, see how that works out for you. Europe is stll robbing us in trade.