Donald Trump's obsession with acquiring Greenland resurfaced forcefully at the NATO summit in Ankara, where he used the issue to criticize European allies and question the value of the transatlantic alliance. Speaking on Wednesday beside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said he was unhappy with NATO not only over Greenland but also because allies had declined to support the United States in its confrontation with Iran. "I'm unhappy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I'm unhappy with NATO because they refused to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror, which is Iran," Trump said. He argued that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, is strategically vital to the United States and accused Copenhagen of failing to recognize its importance. "Greenland is critical to the United States, but it's not relevant to Denmark," Trump said.
Trump then turned to history, referring to the US role in Greenland during World War II. After Nazi Germany occupied Denmark, the United States took responsibility for Greenland's defense and established a military presence there. "We took Greenland and then, stupidly, we gave it back," Trump said. "We shouldn't have given it back to them, because we're the ones who need it. We need it for the protection of the world, not just the United States."
His remarks revived alarm in Denmark, Greenland, and across Europe. Greenland's 56,000 residents have already faced months of uncertainty over Trump's repeated interest in taking control of the island. Although his rhetoric had quieted after earlier remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Danish and European officials remained convinced that the president's intentions were serious. His latest comments in Ankara renewed those concerns.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded by making clear that Denmark's position had not changed. "I heard the US president yesterday, and I think the US position is unfortunately very clear on this topic, and our position is also very clear, as it has been all along," Frederiksen told reporters in Ankara.
British Chancellor Rachel Reeves also rejected Trump's claim that the United States should control Greenland. "The future of Greenland is up to the people of Greenland and Denmark, not the US president," Reeves said. For European leaders, the issue is not only about territory. It is about sovereignty, alliance trust, and whether the United States under Trump still views NATO members as partners. One senior European diplomat at the summit said the broader concern is that Trump increasingly sees Europe as an adversary and could use Greenland as justification for a more serious confrontation.
Greenland has become increasingly important because of its location in the Arctic, where melting ice is opening new maritime routes and intensifying competition among major powers. The island sits near key Arctic passages, including the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route, while the future Transpolar Sea Route could become usable as ice continues to recede. Its position gives it major military and economic value.
Greenland also hosts the US-operated Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, which plays a crucial role in missile warning, space surveillance, and Arctic defense. Trump argued that the island is essential not just for American security but for global protection. "We need it for the protection of the world, not just the United States," he said. European officials acknowledge Greenland's strategic value, especially as Russia expands its Arctic military presence and China seeks greater influence in the region. But they reject Trump's suggestion that strategic importance gives Washington a right to control the territory.
Trump's Greenland comments came as part of a broader attack on NATO allies over Iran. He accused European governments of refusing to help the United States after it took military action against Tehran. "I was very disappointed with NATO," Trump told reporters after arriving in Turkey. "We weren't treated well because we did something in Iran. We don't need anybody's help, but before I asked, they said they'd be absent. He singled out the United Kingdom, criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer for keeping Britain out of the conflict. "In the case of the United Kingdom, the prime minister, I guess he's no longer there; maybe because of this, it was a very unpopular thing he did," Trump said. "He said: 'No, we'll help after the war is over.' I said, "We don't need that kind of help." The British public's support for staying out of the Iran war led to a dispute over Trump's claim about Starmer's political standing.
Trump also used the summit to renew his longstanding criticism that NATO allies rely too heavily on the United States and fail to spend enough on defense. "Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they're not there for us?" he said. "We've always been there for them." He suggested Washington could remove all US troops from Europe if allies continued to resist his demands. "We don't have to spend any money; we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe," Trump said. He then linked US military support to European domestic policies, warning leaders to change course on immigration and energy. Europe's a very different place than it was 20 years ago," he said. "They better be careful with immigration and energy. If they're not careful with those two things, you're not going to have a Europe anymore." The threat unsettled NATO members, who already face uncertainty over Trump's commitment to the alliance's mutual defense principle.
In response to doubts about US support, European countries are accelerating efforts to strengthen their own military capabilities. The United Kingdom is leading a £37 billion European project to develop a long-range missile system that could strike targets hundreds or even more than a thousand miles away. The program aims to reduce NATO Europe's dependence on US weapons and provide a deep-precision strike capability. The project includes countries such as France, Germany, and the Baltic states. If completed, the weapon could hit targets between 200 and 1,200 miles away with high accuracy. From Ukraine, such a system could reach far behind Russian lines and potentially threaten strategic military targets.
The initiative reflects a broader European push to meet higher NATO defense spending targets, including the goal of spending 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2035. European governments are also looking for new ways to fund the sharp increase in military spending. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested combining a multilateral defense financing mechanism with Canada's defense, security, and Resilience Bank initiative.
Supporters of the Canadian-led proposal argue it could give participating countries access to a defense bank with £86 billion in lending capacity. For the UK, the subscription cost could be about £900 million. The idea has previously divided officials in London, with defense advocates supporting it as a way to accelerate military investment while Treasury officials have been more cautious.
Trump's remarks in Ankara highlighted a larger crisis within NATO. European leaders arrived at the summit hoping to avoid another public clash with the US president after a difficult year for the alliance. Instead, Trump revived one of the most sensitive disputes between Washington and Europe.
For Denmark and Greenland, the issue is sovereignty. For NATO, it is a test of whether alliance members can trust the United States to respect the territory of fellow members. For Europe more broadly, it is another sign that Trump's support for the continent may depend on whether allies follow his political and strategic priorities. Greenland has now become more than a remote Arctic territory. It is a flashpoint in the struggle over NATO's future, Arctic security, and the balance of power between the United States and Europe.