At the beginning of 2026, U.S. Special Forces conducted a covert mission in Venezuela that ended in the capture of its President, Nicolás Maduro, and his extradition to the U.S. where he will be tried for drug trafficking charges. Since then, U.S. President Donald Trump has further escalated his ongoing campaign to seize control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a long-term NATO ally. His effort to gain control of Greenland has left many in both the United States and around the world flummoxed, wondering why he is so obsessed with the remote Arctic island. Please join Dr. David Livingstone for this informative lecture in which he will discuss the strategic motivations and consequences driving U.S. foreign policy in the Arctic. How have the effects of climate change and competition for natural resources influenced renewed interest in Greenland by the United States, its allies and adversaries? Are we witnessing what some are referring to as a new “Trump Doctrine” or is it part of the blueprint outlined in project 2025 aimed at establishing global “spheres of influence?” Looking at the history of the Cold War, Dr. Livingstone will try and provide ways we can think about the Arctic as a new frontline in a global power struggle.

This lecture can be attended either in-person at the Thousand Oaks campus or virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.