The dystopian nightmare of 2026 continued apace this week with Donald Trump seemingly hell-bent on taking over Greenland, either by purchase or military force if necessary, while potentially collapsing the entire western security alliance in the process.
Updates were delivered by the US president to European leaders in a trademark stream of social media insults and invective. As ever with Trump, it’s hard to tell if it all should be read as maximalist positioning ahead of a negotiation, or a genuine precursor to a military attack. But as Patrick Wintour and Jennifer Rankin write in this week’s Big Story, the damage among fellow Nato members already looks to have been done.
Melting sea ice has much to do with Greenland’s increasing strategic desirability. With the help of some great graphics, visuals editor Ashley Kirk explains what’s changing in the Arctic and who lays claim to what.
Unsurprisingly, the last thing Trump has borne in mind are the views of Greenlanders themselves. On a visit to Nuuk, the autonomous territory’s capital, our Nordic corespondent Miranda Bryant found bewildered and anxious residents scanning the skies and coastlines for signs of encroaching US military incursions, while also struggling to sleep at night.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | The man who trusted Trump – and paid with his life
Many Iranian protesters believed a US president would – for the first time – rescue them, but now people can only despair after mass arrests and brutality. Deepa Parent and William Christou report
Environment | Where have all Thailand’s dugongs gone?
The Andaman coast was one of few places in the world with a viable population of the marine mammals, but then dead ones began washing up. Now half have gone. Gloria Dickie reports from Phuket
Feature | Cuba edges closer to collapse
Disillusioned with the revolution after 68 years of US sanctions and a shattered economy, one in four Cubans have left in recent years. Can the regime, and country, survive? By Andrei Netto in Havana
Opinion | Take a lesson from the past, and light the way forward
As Martin Kettle writes his last regular column for the Guardian, his thoughts turn to the examples and hope we can take from history
Culture | Michael Sheen on launching Welsh National Theatre
As the newly founded national company’s first show comes to the stage, the proudly Welsh actor tells Kate Wyver about his plan to bring big productions back to his homeland
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What else we’ve been reading
• I found this story of a mother and son driving across Australia positively life-affirming. The world would be a better place if we could all be a bit more Niki and Jimmy. Happy travels to them both. Neil Willis, production editor
• I really enjoyed reading about Veronika, an adorable Austrian cow whose broom back scratches have forced biologists to rethink livestock intelligence. The video of Veronika in an idyllic alpine scene was a treat too. Lewis Fendick, retention executive
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Other highlights from the Guardian website
• Audio | Is US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement out of control?
• Video | Reza Pahlavi: is the last shah’s son a viable opposition leader for Iran?
• Gallery | World Sports Photography Awards 2026 winners revealed
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