2026 has had a turbulent start due to President Trump's erratic behaviour. From seizing Venezuelan oil assets to renewed threats against Greenland and withdrawing from the UN climate treaty and IPCC, the US is shaking the foundations of international cooperation. With these tectonic shifts, the stability of the global order is in question.
Join us for a critical examination of these tectonic geopolitical shifts at the upcoming SDG Academy by the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI). This session will bring together experts from across VU Amsterdam to analyze what these developments mean for international law, global energy politics, and the US' role as a hegemonic actor in both Latin America and the Arctic region.
What do these aggressive moves mean for the future of international cooperation and sustainability? Our panel of speakers will offer expert analysis and historical context.
- Prof. Tanja Aalberts (Faculty of Law) will explore the international legal implications of Trump’s actions in Latin America and beyond, including Greenland.
- Dr. Daniel Gómez Uribe (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities) will place recent events in a historical context by discussing the US' imperial track record in Latin America.
- Dr. Oscar Widerberg (Institute for Environmental Studies) will highlight Greenland and the Arctic region as emerging components in the geopolitical landscape.
- Dr. Mathieu Blondeel (Institute for Environmental Studies) will discuss the global energy dimension of these developments, focusing on the role of Trump’s “Energy Dominance” agenda. These flash talks will be followed by a Q&A segment with the audience.
This SDG Academy will be taking place in-person. For those based in and around Amsterdam, join us at the Green Office VU from 16:00 onwards on February 5th