History warns that defensive alliances often decay into protection rackets. The Trump-Greenland saga is not an anomaly—it is the echo of Athens turning its allies into subjects.
The Treasury on the Island of Apollo
In 478 BC, the Greek city-states formed the Delian League, a noble confederacy dedicated to repelling the Persian Empire.
It was a union of equals, bound by a sacred oath and a shared treasury housed on the holy island of Apollo, Delos. The premise was simple: each member contributed ships or money to a collective defense, ensuring that no single polis would fall to the barbarian hoards. For a time, it was the pinnacle of Hellenic cooperation, a shining example of collective security in a chaotic world.
