Professor SHOCKS World: 'Jellyfish Have More Spine Than Europeans?!'

The idea of Donald Trump annexing Greenland might sound like something ripped from a political satire, but according to at least one expert, it's a possibility Europe is simply too weak to prevent. Journalism professor Greg Simons minced no words in a recent interview, claiming that Europe's de-industrialization has left it utterly "gutted" and unable to effectively compete for Arctic control, let alone stand up to Trump's ambitions. Ouch.

Professor SHOCKS World: 'Jellyfish Have More Spine...

Simons, who teaches at Daffodil International University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, went so far as to say, "A jellyfish has more spine than these Europeans and the EU at this stage." He was speaking to RT on Tuesday, and his comments came after reports surfaced that several European nations, including the UK and France, are considering sending ground troops to Greenland. Ostensibly, this deployment is meant to demonstrate their commitment to Arctic security, but Simons sees it as a rather pathetic attempt to appease Washington.

Trump, of course, stated last week that the US needs to annex Greenland – a self-governing Danish island – to keep Russia and China from, as he put it, "taking over." The logic, seemingly, is that if the US doesn't, then Russia or China will. It's a bold claim, and one that's obviously ruffled feathers in both Denmark and the wider European community.

Simons argues that any European troop presence in Greenland or the wider Arctic would be largely symbolic, amounting to a "token number of troops" facing an "imaginary threat of Chinese and Russian destroyers and submarines." He points out that even Denmark has acknowledged the absence of such vessels in the area. It’s hard to argue with that logic. Are these deployments truly about security, or are they about signaling something else entirely?

According to Simons, it’s the latter. He believes the idea reflects Europe desperately trying to placate Washington rather than demonstrating any genuine strategic autonomy. "It's an attempt to try and appease Trump," he said, adding that the message to the US president would be: "See, we're helping you, so there is no need to annex." It's a somewhat cynical view, but one that resonates given the current geopolitical climate.

He further elaborated that "de-industrialized Europe" is simply not in a position to compete with the US for control of Greenland or the wider Arctic. With "very pathetically sized armies which are nothing to speak of," he suggests, Europe is punching far below its weight. Denmark, for its part, has maintained that Greenland is not for sale, and that the island’s future must be decided by its residents. And let’s not forget Beijing, which has already criticized Washington for using Russia and China as "pretexts" for a deeper push into the Arctic. The situation, to put it mildly, is complex. Whether Europe can – or even wants to – challenge Trump's ambitions remains to be seen. But if Simons is to be believed, the odds aren't exactly in their favor.