Privileged Access for Private Gain, Otherwise Known as Presidential Corruption

 

Umar Kremlev, a businessman with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, paid for a fireworks display and rented a private island for Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson’s wedding this year.

Mireya Acierto via Getty Images

 

"A toaster is a wedding gift. A private-island party paid for by a Putin-connected oligarch is something else."

"Republicans nearly wore out the subpoena machine investigating Hunter Biden's foreign relationships. We should not unplug it now."

"The country should not have to accept one standard for the family of a Republican president and another for the family of a Democratic president."

"It's corruption. I don't like it." 

Utah Senator John Curtis 

Hasn't this always been done? Perhaps a little more discreetly, not to bring it to public notice. Remember former President Bill Clinton and his Clinton Foundation being found out when he had taken donations to his charity from questionable sources that it was intimated wanted to have access to his wife in her influential post in the Obama administration as Secretary of State? Were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Algeria passing out millions just out of the goodness of their hearts, and not for access and influence? 

 

The Trump family, despite their own wealth, are impressed with the palatial digs of Middle Eastern nobility. And if one such country decides to gift Donald J. Trump with a token of his admiration and appreciation through presenting him with a sumptuously-outfitted mega-jet, it's unlikely the gift was anything but a token that could lead the way to preferential treatment. Or not. Say, the casual ability to overlook the fact that Qatar is a leading sponsor of jihad-addicted terrorist groups. 

 

 The discovery that a Russian oligarch, a personal friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had made friendly overtures to the son of the President of the United States, to secure an amicable relationship well-oiled by a generous, costly gift is interesting for what it can reveal of a semblance of warm feelings between Mr. Trump the president and Mr. Putin the president. The Trump family is widely recognized for having ethics-questionable business interests. And that the U.S. president  uses his office to enrich himself and his family is not really classified information. 

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Umar Kremlev during an event in Moscow in September 2022. (Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/Sputnik/Reuters)

 

The situation, revealed by the news outlet PropPublica, that Donald Trump Jr. had a friendly relationship with a wealthy Russian that resulted in an opulent gift from that Russian to the American president's son, grates on the principles and sense of ethical responsibility that should sit with the White House, as far as Utah Senator John Curtis is concerned. The Republican senator wants Donald Trump Jr. to be subpoenaed over the bankrolling by Umar Kremlev of a lavish wedding ceremony enjoyed by the president's son and daughter-in-law and their guests.

 

He has approached the Senate Judiciary Committee for an investigation into the issue of presidential families using their political connections for their own financial interests. Umar Kremlev may be spoken of fondly as a good friend, by the two younger Trumps, Donald Jr. and his wife Bettina, but theirs is an acquaintanceship not long in the tooth. When U.S. President Trump reacted initially to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine by sanctioning a number of Russians close to Putin, including some oligarchs, Mr. Kremley feared he would be among them. Befriending the Trumps would obviously make that less likely.

 

Senator Curtis's request, based on the ProPublica investigation that reported hundreds of thousands were paid by Umar Kremlev toward the three-day wedding celebrations in the Bahamas -- including rental of a private island and a fireworks display that took place in May -- further distances some members of the 
Republican party from the president. That two nights of celebration was "very generously hosted" by their Russian friend was not denied by Trump Jr. and his wife.

 

Donald Trump Jr.'s secret wedding benefactor    Pro Publica

 

In a spirit of all-inclusive rancor, Senator Curtis included Hunter Biden to also be subpoenaed, that Congress should rightfully apply the same standards to families of presidents, irrespective of which party they represented. Trump Jr.'s cryptocurrency ventures, international real estate dealings, defence investments and ties to prediction markets were all to be investigated, according to the letter addressed to Republican judiciary committee chair Chuck Grassley, and Dick Durbin, the committee's top Democrat. 

 

The committee was asked to study closely whether ethics and anti-corruption laws currently existing are adequate for the prevention of the presidency becoming "a vehicle for private enrichment by those closest to it". The wedding revelations, he stated unequivocally, represented an issue that "just stinks".  

 

Kremlev hosted Trump Jr. at an event in Istanbul in September 2025. International Boxing Association

 

 

Juvenile Impulsivity

"That's [renaming Lake Ontario] going to take place right now as I sign the order."

"And we filed all the necessary papers, documents, everything else. We've notified all of the various people that we have to notify."

"So we've done everything that you have to do. And this is official effective immediately."

"No message. Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade, very sadly. We defend Canada for nothing; they don't pay us."

United States President Donald J. Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the interior secretary to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America,' as the trade war with Canada continues. Screen grab from video

 

Playing the role of a trade ogre by unilaterally slapping ruinous trade tariffs on one country after another, President Trump has of late focused his attention more closely on one particular country that just happens to neighbour the United States, as the northern half of North America. Defense and security is big on the agenda for the U.S., the wealthy nation that commands world events through its invaluable work as an international interventionist in the never-ending cycle of events that threaten world stability, while at the same time intervening at other times in foreign affairs by committing its military to endless conflicts with no endgame success.

 

This is a relatively new, in recent times, self-directed, wide-targeting economic bullying of allies and foes alike that Mr. Trump derides for not sufficiently respecting and being grateful to the America he now controls, for its generosity in stabilizing the world from conflicts (those not led by American might) and in offering its goods and services to trading partners at what he now feels to be cut-rate prices. All of which he proclaims has come to an end under his watch, with new eye-opening tariffs and demands of military spending by nations far too dependent on the United States' without adequate commitments of their own.

 

Canada has been particularly remiss, resting on the assurance that the United States would always come to its rescue in response to foreign threats. That assurance lies in the fact that the U.S. would be geographically vulnerable if Canada were to be invaded or forced into self-protective conflict. There have been military partnerships between the two countries and complete trust in one another in the past. Canada was lulled into a state of complacency over its own obligations to the partnership and is now being pulled up short by accusations of coasting along for its security through reliance on the U.S. But it has been the trade issue and economic threats that has proven to be the breaking point in formerly congenial and respectful relations between the two countries, brought to a head by Mr. Trump. 

 

This is a president for whom diplomacy is a concept for weaklings. He has continued to needle Canada as a 'pretend country', one that deserves nothing better than to surrender its sovereignty to the U.S. by agreeing to become the union's 51st state, its prime ministers converted to 'governor' status. That Canada and Canadians have not the slightest interest in becoming a vassal state of America riles this president. All the more so that his diktats over tariff rates imposed on that neighbour are resisted. Punishment, therefore in order.

 

North America's Great Lakes, one of nature's geographic-hydrology gifts to the continent, suddenly took on focus in center-stage when Lake Ontario's name was found offensive to this president. In the verbal-hydrology naming assault analogous to a schoolyard fight and ensuing black eyes, President Donald J. Trump triumphed in his power to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. Musing at the same time that the renaming of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific appealed greatly to him, as well, as Oceans America. 

 

A map labelling Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' is seen behind U.S. President Donald Trump as he speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

 

The U.S. Department of the Interior was ordered to  update maps and databases to reflect this impromptu renaming exercise. Located between New York state and the province of Ontario, Mr. Trump seriously expects the world to henceforth refer to Lake America as one of the five Great Lakes. The naming of the lake, in point of fact, predates both Canada and the United States by hundreds of years. Lake Ontario's name, according to the Center for Great Lakes Literacy, comes from the Iroquoian word "oniatari:io", though the Hurons had a similar etymology. 

"The body of water currently known as Lake Ontario is a tremendous asset to the United States and part of our Nation's heritage."

"With the deepest parts of the Lake's waters lying within United States territory, the United States claims most of the Lake's volume."

"[America is] the greatest protector of the Great Lakes". U.S. Executive Order 14420   

Toronto skyline from Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the Great Lakes, has a rich history and many unique characteristics. Here are some cool facts about Lake Ontario:

1. Smallest of the Great Lakes: Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area, covering about 7,340 square miles (19,000 square kilometers). However, it is the second smallest by volume, holding approximately 393 cubic miles (1,639 cubic kilometers) of water.
2. Lowest Elevation: Lake Ontario sits at the lowest elevation of all the Great Lakes, at about 243 feet (74 meters) above sea level.
3. Natural Outlet: The lake serves as the natural outlet for the Great Lakes system, draining into the Saint Lawrence River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
4. Deep Waters: Despite its smaller size, Lake Ontario is relatively deep, with a maximum depth of 802 feet (244 meters) and an average depth of 283 feet (86 meters).
5. Niagara Falls: The lake receives water from Lake Erie via the Niagara River, which includes the world-famous Niagara Falls. The water from Lake Erie travels over the falls before reaching Lake Ontario.
6. Thousand Islands: The lake is home to the Thousand Islands, an archipelago of more than 1,800 islands located in the Saint Lawrence River, which begins at the lake’s eastern end. These islands are a popular destination for boating and tourism.
7. Toronto: The largest city on the shores of Lake Ontario is Toronto, Canada’s largest city and a major cultural and economic center. Other significant cities on the lake include Hamilton and Kingston in Ontario, Canada, and Rochester in New York, USA.
8. Important Ports: The lake supports significant commercial shipping traffic, with major ports in Toronto, Hamilton, and Rochester. These ports are crucial for trade and transportation.
9. Diverse Ecosystem: Lake Ontario supports a rich and diverse ecosystem, including various fish species such as salmon, trout, bass, and perch. Efforts are ongoing to preserve and protect the lake’s natural environment.
10. Historical Significance: The lake has played a crucial role in the history of the region, from Native American settlements to European exploration and colonization. It was a key route for trade and transportation.
11. Lake Ontario’s Name: The name “Ontario” is derived from the Huron word “Ontarí’io,” which means “great lake” or “beautiful water.”
12. Ice Volcanoes: During winter, the lake’s shores can form “ice volcanoes,” which are mounds of ice created by waves pushing water through cracks in the ice, resulting in mini-eruptions of water and ice.
13. Military History: The lake has been the site of significant military activity, particularly during the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain. Forts such as Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York, and Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario, are historical sites related to this period.
14. Water Source: Lake Ontario serves as a vital source of drinking water for millions of people living in the surrounding regions in both the United States and Canada.
15. Recreational Activities: The lake is a popular destination for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, and bird watching, with numerous parks and beaches along its shores.

National Museum of the Great Lakes, Toledo, Ohio 

Hoekstra, Endearing Himself to Canadians

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, third from right, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pete Hoekstra, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, listen on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. | Mark Schiefelbein/AP

I'm disappointed that I came to Canada — a Canada that it is very, very difficult to find Canadians who are passionate about the American-Canadian relationship."

You ran a campaign where it was anti-American, elbows up, me too. You know, that was an anti-American campaign. That has continued. That's disappointing.

 “This Canadian government, It is so nice of them to put out a national emergency that the U.S. ambassador is again speaking. Watch out!”

“I’ve got suggestions that I think can get it restarted but it’s not going to be easy.” 

“Here, I’ll just get myself in trouble. I go around the country and people will say, ‘Pete, you just don’t understand why we’re so mad about the 51st state.’ Yeah, you’re right. I don’t.”

“I’m sorry. That does not happen in the United States of America. You do not come into America and start running political ads — government-funded political ads — and expect that there will be no consequences or reaction from the United States of America and the Trump administration.”

“As far as we can tell, it has never happened in America before. And if Canada wants to insert itself and create a new precedent that you’re going to participate in our electoral politics through advertising targeting the president of the United States and his policies … I would suggest that you seriously consider whether that is the best way to try to achieve your objectives in the United States of America.”

"Canadians staying home, that's their business, you know. I don't like it, but if that's what they want to do, it's fine. They want to ban American alcohol. That's fine."

"There are reasons why the president and some of his team referred to Canada as being mean and nasty to deal with, OK, because of some of those steps."

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra  

The U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra speaks during an event at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce in Halifax on Sept. 18. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)

 

"I don’t do ‘diplomatic speak’ very well. I think when they listen to what I have to say, they know exactly what my viewpoint is. And they may disagree with it, but at least they understand where I’m coming from and where the United States of America is coming from.”

"It’s not about me, OK. Donald Trump did not tell me to go to Canada and become liked. Matter of fact, I think he would have said ‘If you go to Canada and you’re liked, it probably means that you’re not doing your job.’"

"I’m not running a campaign here for Pete Hoekstra. And I wouldn’t even try to, because the media made up their mind long before I got here about what they were going to say about a Trump ambassador to Canada." 

"That’s fine. You’re a sovereign country. Your defense relationship and stance with the United States, that is a decision you make."

"We’re going to fix the energy issue for the United States of America.We’re open to doing it together. Canada has to decide whether that’s what they want."

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra  

U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra walks to a Fourth of July party at Lornado, the residence of the ambassador from the United States, in Ottawa, on July 4, 2025. | Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

 

In his relentless campaign to convince Canadians that the trade impasse between Canada and the United States and the ongoing threats of tariff punishments meted out by an irascible American president, are really deserving of Canadian appreciation for the position of the United States in righting a 'wrong' long done the economic behemoth by other countries' penchant for traditionally depending on the good nature of Americans to continue milking them while failing to adequately compensate America for dependence on its singular power to keep the world safe, and being content with their trade agreements that invariably it is charged by Mr. Trump, cheat the U.S. out of its due with huge trade imbalances, Pete Hoekstra has made one charged statement too many for Canadians to digest.

 

Just the contratemps over the Gordie Howe International Bridge alone was enough to make Canadians howl with fury with the formal announcement from Mr. Hoekstra's statement:  "Today we welcome the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge to traffic between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, adding new capacity to one of the busiest and most economically significant border crossings between the United States and Canada. President Trump made the opening possible and has consistently prioritized a safer, more secure, and more prosperous North America."

 

In fact, Donald J. Trump refused to allow the bridge to open until Canada succumbed to his demands: "The original Deal on the Bridge, which was terribly negotiated by a previous Administration, no longer stands. We changed the terms of the Deal so that the United States of America now gets 50% of the Profit." The original agreement was between Michigan and Canada, that the total cost of the Bridge was to be paid by Canada, with tolls thereafter going to pay off Canada's debt, after which any toll profit would be shared 50% with Michigan, as well as offering the state half-ownership of the bridge.

 

The $6.4 billion Canada paid for the bridge construction made no impression on Mr. Trump, claiming that Canada 'owed' the U.S. profits realized from tolls. Only when Canada agreed to the extortionist demands made by Mr. Trump would he permit the bridge to be opened. So much for the magnanimity of performance in making 'the opening possible', mentioned in the Ambassadorial report. As for a 'more prosperous North America', that should be rectified to a more prosperous America; Canada and Mexico, part of the continent of North America are being beggared by Mr. Trump's unappeasable appetite for tariffs. 

 

 

Top: They wore red and plaid, they carried signs and flags, they chanted “elbows up”. Hundreds gathered in Nathan Phillips Square to protest President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state at Toronto City Hall in Toronto. March 22, 2025. Bottom: A sign is placed in front of the American whiskey section at a B.C. Liquor Store before top selling American made products are to be removed from shelves as a demonstration for media in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. | Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images; Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP

 

Little wonder than that over 120,000 Canadians signed a petition of removal for U.S. Ambassador Peter Hoekstra, whose insulting, demeaning, patronizing and controlling messaging has managed to offend all of Canada's provincial premiers and the Canadian public. Leading many Canadians who would normally vacation in the United States, to cancel any such plans for the foreseeable future. Most premiers' moves to remove U.S. alcohol from provincial liquor shops had the support of the greater public, while infuriating the Trump administration. The whopping tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, softwood and vehicles have led to the loss of tens of thousands of Canadian manufacturing jobs.

 

Mr. Hoekstra's volatile tenure has brought to Canada first-hand the implacable volatility of the American president in in-your-face entitlements amidst Canada put-downs, top of which is the occasional reference to Canada as the 51st U.S. state. Little wonder that the petition  accuses Mr. Hoekstra of normalizing "the Trump administration's threats to annex Canada as the 51st state". This is an effort led by ordinary Canadians, calling for Pete Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata. Once the petition has  been closed to further signatures by November, the document is set to be introduced to the House of Commons for a Parliamentary vote. 

 

The proposed agreement surrounding the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., to Detroit, was released amid escalated tariff threats by U.S. President Donald Trump. Still from video, CBC News

 

President Donald Trump; the "Most Consequential"

"I understand putting a priority on the president’s security, but frankly, this was just a despicable incident of disrespect for the press and for members of his own Cabinet."

"They should have been allowed to disembark and to fly home another way, rather than taking off on the No. 1 target in the whole region."

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) 

 

"The Israelis passed a tip, a concern, that the plane and potentially the president was under threat."

"[But it turns out the] CIA had low confidence [in the Israeli tip, according to a more recent Post story  on Thursday]."

"I think that kind of leaves the Secret Service in a tough spot of assessing: What do you do in this zero-fail mission to keep the president safe?"

Dan Lamothe, reporter, Washington Post 

 

"It's really just up to Secret Service. I just follow what they like to do. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane, equal safety. I do what they say." 

"The plane that I was on was at greater risk. Because that would be the plane that I think that they would be more likely to go for."

"[I was not surprised by the operation because I face] a lot of threats that  you don't know about."

"Any consequential president has a lot of threats. Non-consequential presidents don't get threatened. And I think that I may be the most consequential."

U.S. President Donald J. Trump  

President Trump speaks to reporters after stepping off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on August 11, 2026. Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images

 

 As President Trump left a NATO summit last month that took place in Turkey, his departure appeared to have run into a bit of an inconvenience. As a result of a perceived threat to his safety and security, a covert alteration in his departure scheduling took place. Under cover he secretly left the Air Force One jet he was scheduled to remain aboard en route to the U.K. to instead furtively board a catering truck to make his journey from Turkey. A potential Iranian assassination threat had emerged while the president was in Turkey.

 

As President Trump left the Air Force One jet, he was accompanied with some of his longest-serving aides; no cabinet officials were among those with them. Passenger on the truck alongside the president included Dan Scavino, deputy chief of White House staff, Natalie Harp, executive assistant to the president and Walt Nauta, director of Oval Office operations. This was confidential information relayed by an official familiar with the operation, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

Among that group were other lower-profile aides. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained on Air Force one, along with Cabinet members and high level officials of the U.S. government, while those aboard the catering truck that concealed their presence moved from the legacy Air Force One aircraft to a smaller Air Force C-32A to fly on to the United Kingdom, separated from the White House press corps and senior government officials.

 

President Donald Trump, pictured as he prepares to board Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall, in England, on July 8.    Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

 

That July 8 furtive operation was reported by the Washington Post, setting off calls from congressional Democrats for an immediate briefing. The secret move had been withheld from journalists travelling with the president on that occasion, nor were they briefed for over a month after the fact. Along with several senior administration officials, military personnel, and Secret Service agents who remained on the legacy Air Force One plane, deemed too potentially hazardous for the president to remain aboard, were the journalists. 

 

The entire scenario, kept under wraps, did not become public knowledge until the Washington Post broke the story. Stirring outrage that the scheme that focused on ensuring that the president was secure, with a hushed-up alternate plan of avoidance, still left others, from government officials to White House journalists susceptible to danger should the information of an attempt through a shoulder-mounted missile to take down the presidential plane have been accurate. They were presumably left as part of a decoy to deflect attention from the president's departure. 

 

A catering truck is parked next to Air Force One at Ankara Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8.   ABC-TV/Pool/Reuters

  

"The U.S. Secret Service continuously analyzes a wide range of information to guide our protective operations in real time and across every location we secure."

"In light of recent assassination attempts and a significant increase in threats against the President, we remain unyielding in our mission."

Secret Service Communications Chief Anthony Guglielmi  

 

Abandoning Allies and Making Deals

"For many countries outside the West, it has become a viable option  to forge strategic agreements with China rather than the United States."

"China and Russia, together with other like-minded states, are seeking to reduce Western -- and particularly U.S. -- global influence."

"At the same time, uncertainty has grown over how the United States will prioritize its resources in the future."

"This gives regional powers greater room for manoeuvre, enabling them to choose between the United States and China or to strike a balance between the two." 

"The strategic importance of the Arctic is rising as the conflict between Russia and the West intensifies, and the growing security and  strategic focus on the Arctic by the United States will further accelerate these developments." 

Danish Defense Intelligence Service report

Greenland became a flashpoint in US-Danish relations earlier this year.

Juliette Pavy/Bloomberg/Getty Images 

"The goal of these Russian cyber and disinformation attacks is clear: It is to divide society, stir up mistrust, provoke rejection, and weaken confidence in democratic institutions."

"This targeted manipulation of information is one of a wide range of activities by Russia aimed at undermining confidence in democratic institutions and processes in Germany."

German foreign ministry spokesperson Martin Giese 

 

"Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that China has always regarded Saudi Arabia as a priority in its Middle East diplomacy and an important partner in its global diplomatic strategy, and is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to elevate bilateral ties to new heights."

"Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks while co-chairing the Fifth Meeting of the Political Sub-committee of the China-Saudi Arabia High-level Joint Committee in Riyadh with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud."

"Wang said that Saudi Arabia is an important member of the Arab and Islamic worlds and an independent force in the process of multipolarization."

"In recent years, under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as well as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, exchanges and cooperation across all fields between the two countries have progressed in a sound and steady manner, he said, adding China-Saudi relations have increasingly gone beyond the bilateral dimension, taking on growing strategic significance and global influence."

China Daily 

Washington Institute for Near-East Policy

 

Deliberately, the Trump administration has put its allies on notice of the withdrawal of the United States from its historical, post-WWII position as protector of Western democratic interests globally. Threats that surfaced with the potential to destabilize the security of Europe and allies further abroad brought the U.S. front and centre in its role as global policeman. The objective was always defence of democracy in the global order and with it the central position of capitalism, the engine that brought prosperity to Western economies.

 

When the people of the great United States of America decided to bring a dedicated businessman whose focus was always 'getting a deal' and winning concessions by coercive means to strike that deal whether it be real estate or tariffs, diplomatic tradition between allies was stood on its head. Allies could be casually dumped but the ultimate goal of mercantilism must always be pursued with the passion of amassing ever greater wealth, and that achievement came at a cost to former allies, so be it.

 

In pursuit of that wealth and the prestige that accompanied it, the Trump administration was more than willing to jettison its relations with Europe and its North American partners, and if any took umbrage at side-issues such as imperialist territorial gain, that was their problem. In surrendering the position of leader of global alliances, the United States forfeited the global esteem it had earned. Agitated, discomfited allies, realizing their new vulnerability huddled for support between themselves envisioning the plight of Ukraine under Moscow's military heel becoming their own.

 

Vladimir Putin attending a meeting with Xi Jinping during the Russian delegation’s visit to China in 2024. Photo: Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation

 

And so a report issued in Denmark asserts the reality facing Europe: that the United States is asserting its will, threatening military force against friend and foe alike. At the very time that China and Russia, taking advantage of the monumental split they see between the U.S. and its allies, recognize the opportunity to commit to their own, covert schemes to further diminish Western global dominion, particularly that of the United States. 

 

 Denmark is particularly offended as a NATO and European Union member as well as an ally of the United States to be facing a situation where President Donald Trump has eyed the military advantages as well as mineral deposits to be had in taking Greenland, nominally part of Denmark, at a time when both Russia and China are themselves preparing to influence and take possession of mineral deposits in the Arctic, and Russia has not been shy about building military installations in an assertion of sovereignty in disputed polar territories. 

 

Rising tensions in the resource-rich Arctic  The U.S. is monitoring military cooperation between Russia and China in the resource-rich Arctic. ABC News 

"Several articles published in September 2025 revived alarmist positions on threats to Canada’s sovereignty. Their authors paint a bleak picture of a Canada unable to control its Arctic territory and facing aggressive China and Russia, which have great ambitions for its territory."

"These grim scenarios include Russian icebreakers sailing through the waters of the Arctic archipelago, Chinese bases built without the knowledge of Canadian authorities, and even an attack on the Canadian Arctic by the Russian military."

"The problem is that this bleak picture is based on highly theoretical scenarios and irrelevant observations. Worse still, it probably misses the real issues, which lie both in the need for the Canadian government to ensure a governmental presence in the North and to counter any challenges to its sovereignty in the Beaufort Sea and the Northwest Passage by the United States."

Network for Strategic Alliances, Department of National Defense of Canada 

Northwest Passage, historical sea passage of the North American continent. It represents centuries of effort to find a route westward from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through the Arctic Archipelago of what became Canada.