logo
episode-header-image
Sep 23
19m 30s

Fault Lines Episode 629: The New Fight f...

National Security Institute
About this episode

Today, John, Les, Jess, and Jeffrey break down the new U.S.-Denmark-Greenland security agreement, which amends the foundational 1951 defense pact. The deal expands American control over security and investment in Greenland, while notionally recognizing Greenlandic sovereignty. It lacks any expiration and seeks to lock any future independent Greenland into the agreement and NATO alignment. The backdrop is a rapidly changing Arctic, where open sea lanes, Russian military activity, and attempted Chinese investment have quietly made Greenland one of the most strategically contested pieces of territory near American shores.


Is this agreement a genuine update to American strategic posture, or does it largely formalize what the 1951 arrangement already provided? What would a growing China presence in Greenland — through port, telecommunications, and mineral investment — mean for U.S. security? Does tying the hands of a potentially independent Greenland represent shrewd geopolitics or a troubling erosion of self-determination? Was the diplomatic crisis necessary or worth it?


Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.


@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

@JohnCLipsey


Like what we're doing here?


Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.


And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!


We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/KOqtlenfBGo


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Sep 28
Fault Lines Episode 631: Strait Talk: Iran's Diplomacy Gambit and the Trump Ultimatum
Today, Les, Jamil, John, and Andy examine the latest twist in U.S.-Iran negotiations after reports emerged that the Trump administration rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on terms resembling a version of the JD Vance MOU from mid-June. The administration ... Show More
16m 23s
Sep 25
Fault Lines Episode 630: UNGA, Multilateralism, and the Limits of Global Institutions
Today, Jess, John, Les, and Algene break down a packed week at the UN General Assembly in New York, where world leaders delivered speeches ranging from Trump's stark warnings toward Iran to Zelenskyy's push for a settlement framework and ongoing maneuvering over Ukraine. However, ... Show More
24m 52s
Sep 21
Fault Lines Episode 628: Xi in Washington: Trade, Tech, Taiwan, and the Iran Wild Card
Today, Les, John, Jess, and Amy break down the high-stakes summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, taking place in Washington, D.C. against the backdrop of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. The two leaders are meeting as tariff suspensions hold, a ... Show More
25m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Lawfare Archive: An NSI Conversation on U.S.-China Policy
<p>From May 25, 2019: Our friends from the National Security Institute at George Mason University stopped by earlier this week to discuss U.S.-China relations. Lester Munson, Jodi Herman, Jamil Jaffer, and Dana Stroul, former Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffers who collab ... Show More
50m 32s
Oct 2025
Will Hamas Disarm, and What Does Gaza’s Future Governance Look Like?
Today on the show, Fareed is joined by counterterrorism expert Matthew Levitt and RAND distinguished Israel policy chair Shira Efron for a discussion on the future of the fragile truce in Gaza, and what post-war governance in the enclave could look like.Then, China expert Alice H ... Show More
40m 45s
Nov 2021
China and the US: competition or conflict?
tail spinning
23m 44s
Sep 2021
The “Everyone Is Wrong” Edition
<p>On this week’s episode, Alan, Quinta, and Scott are joined by the fourth member of their Lawfare senior editor quartet, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow (and first-time Rational Security guest) Molly Reynolds!</p><br><p>They sit down to discuss: the legacy of 9/11 and wheth ... Show More
1h 11m
Apr 2025
Episode 436: Friendly Fire – Tariffs, Allies, and Strategic Fallout
Today, Les, Martha, and Jess unpack the growing global fallout from President Trump’s expanding tariff agenda. With a minimum 10% tariff imposed on all imports – and significantly higher rates hitting key partners like Vietnam and the European Union – the administration’s “Americ ... Show More
10m 17s
Sep 2021
Amanpour: Anthony Gardner, Victor Gao, Bridget Cambria and Lee McIntyre
Former U.S. Ambassador to the EU Anthony Gardner and Chinese expert Victor Gao join Christiane Amanpour to reflect on the fallout from the AUKUS pact and implications for US/China relations. Then Bridget Cambria, immigration lawyer and Executive Director of Aldea - The People's J ... Show More
56m 41s