Defense analyst Shashank Joshi posted on X during the reporting window from 6:46 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. UTC on January 19, 2026, warning of a 'real risk of a spiral' in transatlantic ties after Europeans used terms like 'blackmail, intimidation, threat' against U.S. Greenland demands and refused to back down. Joshi stated Europeans risk prompting U.S. escalation from tariffs to security actions, including suspending Ukraine weapon sales, halting intelligence sharing, and withdrawing select forces from Europe, according to his post on X at https://x.com/shashj/status/2013139238145900974. He added the U.S. administration believes it holds 'escalation dominance' with Europe dependent and at risk of Ukraine 'collapse,' citing yesterday's Bessent interview, and described it as the most serious transatlantic crisis since Suez, as quoted in the post. The post follows Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's 6:27 a.m. UTC X statement rejecting 'blackmail' over Greenland, affirming only Denmark and Greenland decide and the EU will stand firm, per the official @SwedishPM account.
