Trump calls for US to control GreenlandUS to control Greenland at NATO summit in Turkey
Former US president Donald Trump renewed his call for the United States to control Greenland during a NATO summit in Turkey on July 7, 2026, citing strategic concerns about Chinese and Russian ships.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded that Greenland is Danish territory and "not for sale," while summit organizers emphasized NATO's unity against external threats.
The dispute highlights growing tensions over Arctic sovereignty and US-Europe spending commitments within the alliance.
Danish Government
The Danish government asserts that Greenland remains sovereign Danish territory and is not available for transfer, emphasizing Denmark's commitment to its Arctic responsibilities despite Trump's public demands.
Trump Administration
The Trump administration argues that the United States should control Greenland due to its strategic value against Chinese and Russian naval activity, claiming Denmark fails to adequately invest in the territory's development.
- Greenland holds the world's largest island territory status with over 2.1 million square kilometers, mostly covered by ice.
- The Arctic region is projected to see new shipping routes open by 2050 as ice melts, increasing Greenland's strategic importance.
- Trump previously proposed buying Greenland in 2019, which Danish officials immediately rejected as impossible.
US-NATO Greenland Crisis
The United States-NATO alliance has navigated its most severe crisis in memory as President Trump's second-term 'America First' agenda threatened to seize Greenland or impose sovereign claims, prompting Denmark and European allies to reject any U.S. territorial control and warn that military aggression would end NATO.
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