Trump revives call for US control of Greenland at NATO summit

President Donald Trump has reignited his ambition to secure American control over Greenland, using his arrival at the 2026 NATO summit in Ankara on 7 July 2026 to revive a demand that had previously strained transatlantic relations.

Speaking to reporters before a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump stated that Greenland should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark. He justified the position by claiming the territory is surrounded by China ships and Russian ships and asserting that Denmark does not invest sufficiently in the island’s development. The declaration marks a return to the geopolitical friction that characterised the start of the year, when the US president floated the idea of acquisition and initially declined to rule out the use of military force.

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The revived claim has been met with firm rejection. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, also in attendance at the summit in Ankara, reiterated that the territory is not for sale and stated she expects allies to respect the sovereignty of the Danish kingdom. Múte Egede, the foreign minister of Greenland, similarly maintained that the future of the island should be decided solely by its people. In a further rebuke to the US president's framing, Rachel Reeves, the UK Chancellor, told reporters that the future of the island is not a matter for the US president to determine.

Trump’s focus on the Arctic territory is accompanied by a broader warning regarding the US military presence in Europe. Linking the Greenland dispute to wider frustrations with the alliance, Trump suggested that the US could withdraw its soldiers from the continent entirely. With all the money we spend to help them with Russia—and we don't have to spend any money—we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, he said. He pointed to changes in the continent over the last two decades, cautioning European leaders to be careful with immigration and energy or risk losing the Europe they currently recognise.

This pressure campaign is set against a backdrop of existing strain within the alliance. As of July 7, 2026, the US maintains approximately 68,000 active-duty personnel across European nations. The administration previously announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany in May, a move widely viewed as a response to European criticism regarding US military actions in Iran. Trump expressed continued disappointment that allies did not provide support during those operations, stating he was testing his counterparts' commitment to the US.

Geopolitical Context and Claims

The president’s interest in Greenland is rooted in the island’s strategic location and mineral wealth, which he frames as a national security necessity for competing with Russia and China.

The situation remains complicated by the following timeline of events:

• January 2026: Trump initiates a diplomatic crisis by insisting the US acquire Greenland, threatening tariffs on European allies and refusing to rule out military force.
• 21 January 2026: Following discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump announces a framework for a future deal at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
• May 2026: The Pentagon announces the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany amid funding disputes and disagreements over the war in Iran.
• 7 July 2026: Trump formally revives his demand for control over Greenland upon arriving at the Ankara NATO summit.

For now, Danish officials have indicated they have no intention of discussing the island's sale in Ankara.

While the summit is officially focused on defense investment and support for Ukraine, the atmosphere in Ankara remains dominated by the US president’s shifting demands.