Hello, everyone. Today at WPR, we’re covering the split between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and why intervening in Iran would likely hurt, not help, protesters. | But first, WPR editor-at-large Judah Grunstein has our take on today’s top story: |  | Military vessel HDMS Knud Rasmussen of the Royal Danish Navy patrols near Nuuk, Greenland, Jan. 15, 2026 (AP Photo by Evgeniy Maloletka). |
| Since President Donald Trump first began expressing his determination for the U.S. to possess Greenland soon after winning the 2024 election, Europe has struggled to find an appropriate response. At first, Denmark and its European allies had trouble taking Trump’s comments seriously, writing them off as an example of Trump’s provocative humor. When it became clear that he meant business, they sought to allay his ostensible concerns over Greenland’s security vis-Ã -vis Russian and Chinese encroachments, while also underlining that any infringement of Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty would put the trans-Atlantic alliance in jeopardy. | When Trump and his administration subsequently seemed to lose interest in the matter, distracted by more immediate crises like Iran, Venezuela and various high-stakes diplomatic efforts to further Trump’s pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize, Europeans breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he had dropped the idea. They subsequently put their energies into the high-profile negotiations over the peace deal in Ukraine that Trump so prizes, believing that demonstrating the value of the trans-Atlantic partnership in action was the best antidote to any efforts to undermine it. | Their reprieve, however, was short-lived, as Trump, seemingly buoyed by the tactical success of the Venezuela operation, has renewed his campaign of public comments about Greenland in recent weeks. Egged on by high-profile supporters in the media who seem to see it as a game, Trump once again declared that America not only needs the strategically located territory but will have it, whether it is purchased or taken by force. | Denmark and Greenland—a semi-autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty—quickly sent their foreign ministers to Washington, where they met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Their intention was to convey the seriousness with which they take Trump’s slight, but also to find an off-ramp to the dispute. In this they were disappointed: Even as they met, Trump reiterated his refusal to consider anything but U.S. sovereignty over the territory, despite the U.S. already having a military base and relatively unfettered access there. The two visiting ministers informed the press afterward that the talks had been productive but inconclusive, and that the Trump administration remained obstinately determined to achieve its goal. | This time, however, Europe’s response seems to have been better prepared. … Purchase a subscription now to read the rest and get the full top story in your Daily Review email every day. |
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| | A massive popular uprising erupted across Iran over the past several weeks, with thousands reportedly killed amid a violent crackdown by authorities. What began as isolated protests against the country’s dire economic crisis swiftly evolved into a broader challenge to the Islamic Republic’s political survival. As the regime indiscriminately kills protesters, threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene militarily could inadvertently backfire by emboldening government hardliners. If the United States is genuinely interested in reform in Iran, it should weigh its options carefully, as military strikes may not have the desired outcome, Idean Salehyan writes. |  | Bombing Iran May Hinder, Not Help, the Protesters | Iran’s historical experience of foreign meddling means that U.S. airstrikes could galvanize the regime and its supporters rather than weaken them. | www.worldpoliticsreview.com/iran-protests-us-airstrikes |
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| | The two Gulf of powerhouses of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are running into increasing areas of disagreement. The most recent and most dramatic one centered on neighboring Yemen, where Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are currently backing different sides in the country’s ongoing three-sided conflict. But Yemen is just one of many areas of significant disagreement. As Frida Ghitis writes, The clash of these wealthy, well-armed titans has major implications for the larger region, ranging from the Gulf and the Middle East to East Africa and the Horn. But it also affects areas of great concern to the United States and the international community. |  | The Saudi-UAE Split Is About More Than Just Yemen | The clash of the two Gulf states has major implications for the Middle East. But it also affects East Africa and important U.S. interests. | www.worldpoliticsreview.com/saudi-arabia-uae-yemen-mbs-mbz |
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Welcome to my geopolitics blog site. This is a Hawaii Island news site focusing on geopolitical news, analysis, information, and commentary. I will cite a variety of sources, ranging from all sides of the political spectrum.