Portrait of Stephen Miller
Politician · organisation
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Stephen Miller on NATO

Skeptical of alliance (strong)

TL;DR

Stephen Miller has suggested NATO members should cede strategically vital territory like Greenland to the United States for security.

Key Points

  • He stated that Greenland should be part of the United States to secure the Arctic and protect NATO interests.

  • His argument on Greenland suggested that U.S. security interests supersede the territorial control of a NATO ally like Denmark.

  • He described the post-World War II rules-based international order, of which NATO is a part, as a period of the U.S. groveling and asking for favors.

Summary

Stephen Miller has expressed a position suggesting that territorial control aligns with national security interests, specifically in the context of the United States seeking to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a NATO ally. In one instance, he questioned the basis of Denmark holding Greenland, asserting that for the United States to secure the Arctic and protect NATO interests, Greenland should naturally become part of the U.S. This viewpoint implies a prioritization of unilateral strategic acquisition over established alliance structures and the territorial integrity of allies.

His statements align with a broader theme of viewing the world as governed by power rather than international laws or multilateral agreements, suggesting contempt for the existing alliance structure. This perspective suggests that if a territory within a NATO member's domain is important for American security, the U.S. should have direct control, which directly challenges the foundational concept of mutual defense within the alliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stephen Miller appears to view the current NATO structure with skepticism, prioritizing direct U.S. strategic control over allied territory. He has implied that American security mandates should override the territorial sovereignty of member nations, as suggested by his comments regarding Greenland.

Stephen Miller characterized the international order established after World War II, which includes NATO, as a time when the United States was "groveling and asking for favors." This framing suggests a desire to move away from the multilateral commitments underpinning the alliance.

He connected U.S. interests to NATO allies' territory by arguing that any part of a NATO country important for U.S. security should belong to the U.S. For example, in the context of Greenland, he questioned why Denmark should retain control if U.S. defense of the Arctic is the goal.