Is Trump destroying the Western alliance? Will Europe break with USA and ally with China?

Is Trump destroying the Western alliance? Will Europe break with USA and ally with China?

Author: Ben Norton February 1, 2026 Duration: 38:36
As Donald Trump hits the EU with tariffs and threatens to colonize Greenland (an autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark), European leaders are improving relations with China and seeking new trade partners. Is this the end of the political West and the transatlantic alliance? Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpngJ3tC7Xw Topics 0:00 Western alliance & US empire 0:59 NATO 2:04 Cold War One 2:42 Rise of China 4:20 Cold War Two 5:11 Europe's trade with China 5:33 Trump strategy: exploit Europe 6:55 Why Trump wants Greenland 8:18 Critical minerals & rare earths 9:37 End of NATO? 10:28 UK PM Keir Starmer visits China 11:07 Europe improves China relations 11:39 Trump threatens Europe over China 12:26 Splits with European Union 13:10 German industry 14:44 Would a Democrat repair EU ties? 15:46 EU trade deal with India 16:25 EU agreement with Mercosur 17:06 EU trade dependence on USA 17:50 UK trade dependence on USA 18:13 Canada trade dependence on USA 19:04 Canada PM Mark Carney visits China 19:33 US military presence in Europe 21:02 EU energy dependency 21:38 US oil exports to EU 22:06 US LNG exports to EU 23:41 EU dependence on US technology 25:52 Artificial intelligence (AI) 26:35 US Big Tech companies 27:05 EU card: ASML machines 28:09 Will EU dump US financial assets? 28:54 European holdings of US assets 29:56 US bond market vulnerability 30:58 Trump threatens "big retaliation" 32:30 INSTEX & US sanctions 34:12 Merkel & Macron promised EU army 35:02 Strategic autonomy? 35:37 Vassals of US empire 36:40 Change will be slow 37:33 Independence would be good 38:26 Outro

Trying to make sense of international headlines often feels like seeing only the ripples on the water's surface, without understanding the powerful currents moving beneath. Geopolitical Economy Report, hosted by journalist Ben Norton, dives into those deeper forces. This isn't just a recap of the day's events; it's a dedicated exploration of how economic systems, historical context, and raw power politics fundamentally shape global conflicts and alliances. Each episode builds on the work of the independent news outlet of the same name, translating its original journalism and analysis into a compelling audio format. You'll hear detailed discussions that connect financial policies to social movements, or trace the historical roots of a modern trade war, always with an eye toward understanding the larger, changing structure of the world. For anyone tired of superficial news cycles and seeking a more substantive, connected perspective on why nations and institutions act the way they do, this podcast offers a crucial and clarifying lens. Tune in for a regular dose of context that the mainstream frequently overlooks.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Geopolitical Economy Report
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