The United States is using its economic might to impose its will and threaten both friends and foes with military force, a new report from the Danish intelligence agency says, The Associated Press reported, BTA reported.
In its latest annual assessment, the Danish intelligence service said Washington's greater assertiveness under Trump comes at a time when China and Russia are trying to reduce the influence of the West, and particularly the United States.
Perhaps the most sensitive issue for Denmark - a member of NATO and the European Union and a U.S. ally - is the growing competition between these great powers in the Arctic. US President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to make Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory rich in minerals, part of the US, a move that has met with resistance from Russia and much of Europe.
"The strategic importance of the Arctic is growing as the conflict between Russia and the West escalates, and the growing US interest in the Arctic for security and strategy will further accelerate this development," the report, published on Wednesday, said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was concerned about NATO's activities in the Arctic and would respond by strengthening its military capabilities in the polar region.
The findings and analysis in the report reflect a series of recent concerns, particularly in Western Europe, about the increasingly independent approach of the United States, which during Trump's second term has prioritized bilateral agreements and partnerships over multilateral alliances such as NATO.
"For many countries outside the West, strategic agreements with China rather than the United States have become a real option", the report said. "China and Russia, along with other like-minded countries, are seeking to reduce the global influence of the West, and in particular the United States."
"At the same time, uncertainty is growing about how the United States will prioritize its resources in the future", the report added. "This gives regional powers greater leeway, allowing them to choose between the United States and China or to strike a balance between the two."
The Trump administration has raised concerns about compliance with international law with its series of deadly strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean – part of the intensified pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump also refused to rule out the use of military force in Greenland, where Washington already has a military base, the AP recalls.