Mandelson's revenge as ex-ambassador condemns Starmer and Europe for 'impotence' in the face of Trump 'revolution'
Lord Mandelson, who was ousted over historic ties to Jeffrey Epstein, lashed out at Europe's 'impotence' in the face of a changed world.
By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR
Published: 09:06 GMT, 8 January 2026 | Updated: 16:11 GMT, 8 January 2026
Lord Mandelson has surfaced with a brutal assessment of Keir Starmer's response to the Trump 'revolution'.
The former US ambassador, who was ousted over historic ties to Jeffrey Epstein, lashed out at Europe's 'impotence' in the face of a changed world.
Writing in the Spectator, the New Labour architect suggested 'histrionics' about Mr Trump's threats to take over Greenland were evidence of the 'lazy' way Western leaders viewed the 'MAGA' movement.
Lord Mandelson dismissed concerns about sovereignty and Nato's future as 'performative' and said there needed to be a 'considerably beefed-up role' for America in the territory to counteract threats from Russia and China.
'It took President Trump deciding it was in America's interests to helicopter Nicolas Maduro to face justice, and this is the awful truth that Europe's political leaders are coming to terms with: Trump has the means and the will and they don't,' the peer wrote.
'Europe's growing geopolitical impotence in the world is becoming the issue now, and histrionics about Greenland is confirming this brutal reality.'
Lord Mandelson has surfaced with a brutal assessment of Keir Starmer's response to the Trump 'revolution'
Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron (pictured yesterday) signed a statement along with Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark declaring they will 'not stop defending' Greenland
Lord Mandelson said the 'future of Greenland is being misunderstood'.
'Trump is not going to ''invade'' it. He doesn't need to. He's already there,' he said.
'What will happen is that the threats to Arctic security posed by China and Russia will crystallise in European minds, performative statements about ''sovereignty'' and Nato's future will fade, and serious discussion will take over.
'Together, the US, Denmark and other allies will address how the Arctic region is properly secured with a considerably beefed-up role and status and military deployment by America.'
Lord Mandelson argued that the 'rules-based system' has 'effectively not existed' for a 'long time'.
He dismissed the idea that Mr Trump had 'single-handedly broken up the postwar global order' - suggesting that the rise of China was behind that change.