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drray23

(8,591 posts)
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:10 PM Friday

So if Trump decides to go ahead and invade greenland

It should be pretty obvious even to the lowest soldier on the totem pole to know that this is blatantly illegal and unconstitutional.
Given that, what are the odds they would follow orders?

In my opinion, the military will simply follow orders. I bet that if Trump were to ask them to bomb France, they would.

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drray23

(8,591 posts)
4. what would they do?
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:17 PM
Friday

Even if NATO wanted to respond they do not have the military might to openly go to war with the US. Even if they wanted, they also do not have the means to project their miltary forces accross the atlantic like the US can do anywhere on the planet with our extensive navy ships and air force transports.

Bluestocking

(518 posts)
6. They would be protecting Greenland
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:23 PM
Friday

not attacking the US mainland. They will not just sit back and let it happen. Venezuela is not part of NATO.

It is nuts that we are even having this conversation

Jedi Guy

(3,424 posts)
10. The issue is they'd have to get across the Atlantic, though.
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:49 PM
Friday

The US can project force to Greenland much more easily and quickly than the European members of NATO can, and the US Navy would rapidly establish dominance of the Atlantic, including air superiority. The European NATO militaries would be going through the meat grinder before they ever even reached Greenland.

Canada is really the only NATO member in a position to respond to an invasion of Greenland but there's still just not a lot they could do.

Jedi Guy

(3,424 posts)
9. That's exactly the problem European members of NATO would face if Trump invades Greenland.
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:45 PM
Friday

The Atlantic is, for all intents and purposes, our ocean in terms of blue water naval strength. The European nations don't have nearly the same ability to project force and any military forces they sent across the Atlantic to attempt to reinforce or liberate Greenland would take a pounding from the Navy's Atlantic fleet. The USN would quickly establish air superiority, as well, and then there are who knows how many SSN attack subs lurking out there. God forbid Trump get any bright ideas with the boomer subs.

The only nation that would be in a position to do anything about it would be Canada, and the Canadian armed forces are by no means a match for the US. Under Article 5, though, they'd theoretically be obligated to do something about it.

If Trump goes through with it there's not a lot Europe could do about it, militarily. NATO would cease to exist in any practical sense, with either the other members leaving and forming their own treaty organization or attempting to boot the US out, assuming the charter allows for that. It would drive a stake right into the heart of the post-WWII world order.

If Trump is stupid enough to invade Greenland, it will irrevocably change the geopolitical world. Most unfortunately, even the tenuous guardrails that were in place during his first term are absent now. There's no Mattis or Tillerson to try to curb his stupidest impulses, only a yapping pack of sycophants and parasites. There's no chance of the Cabinet invoking the 25th Amendment and removing him from office, either.

The whole Trump/Greenland thing is essentially analogous to a small child gazing at a land mine while holding a hammer.

muriel_volestrangler

(105,589 posts)
12. Seize all US bases in their own countries
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:53 PM
Friday

Give the personnel an ultimatum - stay with NATO, by denouncing the attack, or surrender all arms - while reminding them of US law.

doc03

(38,841 posts)
7. They will follow his orders. The officers only
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:31 PM
Friday

interest is their next promotion and getting their pension.

ABC123Easy

(55 posts)
8. I agree
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:43 PM
Friday

The grunts, especially the maga grunts (i would guess the vast majority of them) would follow orders to bomb San Francisco if told to do so.
Now the officer corps and higher level officers.....that's where the push back would come from.....hopefully.

muriel_volestrangler

(105,589 posts)
11. It's up to all Americans to remind everyone in the military they would be breaking the law
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:51 PM
Friday

and their oaths (is that just officers? Or enlisted too?) And that the majority of the country will shun them, try to stop them, and prosecute them in the end, if they take part.

And if Trump acts, mass civil disobedience to halt the entire government, though especially the military, will be needed. Non-violent sabotage would be justified.

Arazi

(8,709 posts)
13. They will follow orders
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:55 PM
Friday

Only hitch is US soldiers would be trapped at multiple EU sites surrounded by other militaries that are just as capable - the French, British, German, Italian etc militaries are savagely good at their jobs.

A tripwire force of EU military forces on Greenland would be the other deterrent action to take.

US GOFOs should have enough rationale for even this treasonous administration to stop any Greenland invasion with those two factors in play

duckworth969

(1,202 posts)
15. EU should put troops on the Island now
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 08:36 PM
Friday

Call it an exercise of some sort.

Operation Autonomy

Norrrm

(4,034 posts)
14. It is very easy to say that soldiers could refuse to obey unlawful orders.
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 08:28 PM
Friday

It is very easy to say that soldiers could refuse to obey unlawful orders. They have
to think it over very, very carefully. Peer pressure would be very strong. While it could
take years to battle it out in courts, trial and punishment would be almost
instantaneous. Loss of career. Cadet bone spurs and drunkard Hegseth had no problem getting rid of
generals who did not toe the line.

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