Greenland ought to be concerned right now!
- Thread starter Ross Dolan
- Start date
T. A. Gardner
Serial Thread Killer
Let's assume that happens. The US takes Greenland by force. US bases in Europe are taken over by the countries they're in and the US is forced to leave.View attachment 70120
This quote in the image is real and comes from Gunther Fehlinger, chairman of the Austria Committee for NATO Enlargement. He made this statement in a video posted online in early January 2026, responding to provocative U.S. rhetoric about potentially annexing Greenland.
Here’s the verified context:
What Fehlinger said
- He warned that if the U.S. tried to take Greenland, Europe would retaliate by confiscating all U.S. military bases in Europe, including Aviano (Italy), Ramstein (Germany), and others in Romania and beyond.
- His exact words included:
Why he said it
- Fehlinger was reacting to a viral post by MAGA podcaster Katie Miller, who shared an image of Greenland covered in a U.S. flag with the caption “Soon.”
- He viewed this as a serious threat and responded with a warning about European leverage, saying Europe could operate without U.S. troops or nuclear protection if necessary.
No — Fehlinger is not a NATO official in the formal sense. He chairs a pro-NATO advocacy group in Austria, but his statements do not represent NATO’s official position. They reflect his personal and political stance, meant to signal European resistance to unilateral U.S. actions.
Is it official NATO policy?
www.the-express.com
NATO official threatens to seize all US bases in Europe if US invades ...
https://www.the-express.com/news/us-1news/195332/nato-official-slams-us-greenland?utm_source=copilot.com
How does that affect the economy of those nations? How does the loss of access to US military contractors and suppliers affect them?
On the other hand, the US has the largest, and best equipped, military in Europe today. France is unlikely to fight at all on top of that for starters.
Think Trump is dumb enough to affect the businesses in a negative way?
Jake Starkey
Verified User
It is scattered piece meal all over Europe.
Europe would sanction us, which along with the massive reduction of American purchasing in Europe, would cause an Even Greater Depression.
The US won't tempt walking that path.
Europe would sanction us, which along with the massive reduction of American purchasing in Europe, would cause an Even Greater Depression.
The US won't tempt walking that path.
T. A. Gardner
Serial Thread Killer
Not true. Most of the US forces are located on large, well established, bases in just a few locations.
Wrong. Europe is far more dependent on the US than the other way around. In Europe there would be a recession and possibly a depression.
So you say.
Is it telling when certain posters won't respond?
Jake Starkey
Verified User
Nope. You are simply guestimating. And they are not organized to work together in a united war-making capacity.
T. A. Gardner
Serial Thread Killer
$344 billion a year loss to Europe is estimated.
Quick US troop exit would leave Europe vulnerable and cost allies up to $344 billion, study finds
A rapid US military withdrawal from Europe would leave allies on the Continent exposed to attack and cost them hundreds of billions of dollars to offset the loss of American firepower, a new report says.
To replace the US military presence would run Europe about $1 trillion in new military spending too.
Replacing US military support in Europe would cost $1T
European NATO countries would face a short-term “window of vulnerability” against Russian aggression.
www.politico.eu
The Trump card: What could US abandonment of Europe look like?
The latest actions of the Trump 2.0 administration have heightened fears about a dwindling US commitment to Europe. But US abandonment could manifest in different ways – as a bargaining chip or as a policy goal. To prepare for all possible scenarios, the EU and its Member States must invest in a...
www.iss.europa.eu
It would take Europe decades (note the plural) to rebuild their own militaries to replace what the US took out.
Jake Starkey
Verified User
If NATO in Europe nationalized the US military bases in Europe, what would be the estimated monetary loss to both sides?
| Side | Type of loss | Rough magnitude (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Stranded infrastructure & relocation | $30–60+ billion over time |
| United States | Higher long‑term operating costs (if posture maintained via rotations) | Billions per year |
| European hosts | Lost US deterrence, need to expand own forces | Many billions per year in added defense spending |
| European hosts | Full assumption of base operating costs | Billions per year |
Attachments
Europeans buying weapons from Europe would help their economy, but it might hurt their militaries, if the equipment is not as good. There is a growing fear in Europe that some American equipment can be turned off at trump's whim. There might be kill switches built in. While I find this as improbable, the US can cut off replacement parts, shutting down equipment.
T. A. Gardner
Serial Thread Killer
There's also the problem that they can't produce everything they need anymore. Much of their military oriented industry has simply ceased to exist as they couldn't get enough orders to keep production going.
There isn't since that would be a serious problem in an actual war. If that could be done, and the enemy found out, well...
Replacement parts are an issue for lots of modern military equipment, particularly "smart" weapons and systems using electronics and such. The parts in these go obsolete and can't be sourced.
For example--this was in the early 2000's--I knew a supply officer in the Navy who told me the Marines needed replacement circuit boards for one of their guided anti-tank weapons while he was in Afghanistan. The US supply system no longer had the part because it was obsolete. He ended up having to do a three-way deal to get replacements from Egypt through Israel as the Egyptians still had the older system in their inventory.
That sort of stuff goes on all the time. I personally had to make major changes to old drawings to get something made in the Navy. Castings for example, are something you can't get done anymore. The number of companies doing that are miniscule and often expensive. You have to find a substitute grade of metal similar to the original and have the part CNC machined instead.
Jake Starkey
Verified User
"There's also the problem that they can't produce everything they need anymore. Much of their military oriented industry has simply ceased to exist as they couldn't get enough orders to keep production going."
Neither can we. May calmer heads prevail.
Neither can we. May calmer heads prevail.
View attachment 70120
This quote in the image is real and comes from Gunther Fehlinger, chairman of the Austria Committee for NATO Enlargement. He made this statement in a video posted online in early January 2026, responding to provocative U.S. rhetoric about potentially annexing Greenland.
Here’s the verified context:
- He warned that if the U.S. tried to take Greenland, Europe would retaliate by confiscating all U.S. military bases in Europe, including Aviano (Italy), Ramstein (Germany), and others in Romania and beyond.
- His exact words included:
- Fehlinger was reacting to a viral post by MAGA podcaster Katie Miller, who shared an image of Greenland covered in a U.S. flag with the caption “Soon.”
- He viewed this as a serious threat and responded with a warning about European leverage, saying Europe could operate without U.S. troops or nuclear protection if necessary.
No — Fehlinger is not a NATO official in the formal sense. He chairs a pro-NATO advocacy group in Austria, but his statements do not represent NATO’s official position. They reflect his personal and political stance, meant to signal European resistance to unilateral U.S. actions.
www.the-express.com
NATO official threatens to seize all US bases in Europe if US invades ...
https://www.the-express.com/news/us-1news/195332/nato-official-slams-us-greenland?utm_source=copilot.com
LMAO!
Sorry, gfm, my comment was intended for people with a functioning brain...not for you or people like you.
Go back to your comic book...or any book with lots of pictures.
Jake Starkey
Verified User
gfm likes pictures, and lots of them.
IBDaMann
Well-known member
This needs further clarification. Greenland should be celebrating.
You are mistaken. What concern is there?
The UN Security Council.
IBDaMann
Well-known member
You wouldn't know what that is. gfm7175's question was for someone with a functioning brain. Could you ask someone nearby for the correct answer?
gfm7175
Mega MAGA
IOW, Greenland has nothing to be concerned about. Gotcha.
If you want to shout your stupidity and claim that is how to interpret what I said...be my guest. I thank you for the help you offer in showing that you are a joke.