WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump reignited his call for the United States to control Greenland, threatening to remove American soldiers from European nations over the issue, as the 2026 NATO summit got underway in Ankara on July 7.
Trump reiterated his position that Greenland is vital for U.S. security during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after an earlier push from Trump to acquire the semi-autonomous territory from Denmark set off a NATO crisis in January.
"That's what hurt my relationship with NATO," Trump said in response to a reporter's question about Greenland. "Because Greenland doesn't help Denmark. Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland, but it's an important part for the United States, and it's surrounded by China ships and Russian ships, and that's not going to happen."