Donald Trump threatens to pull US troops from Europe and seize Greenland
President Donald Trump warned he could withdraw all American soldiers from Europe and demanded US control over Greenland. These threats have sparked tensions and an urgent review of security impacts among NATO allies.
At the opening of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7 2026, President Donald Trump warned that the United States could withdraw every American soldier stationed on the continent and reiterated his demand that Greenland be placed under US control. The dual threats have reignited tensions with European allies and sparked a scramble within NATO to gauge the security impact.
Trump made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then repeated them at a press conference on the sidelines of the summit. He framed the two moves as a response to what he called “Europe’s a very different place than it was 20 years ago” and a “lack of reciprocity” on defence spending, immigration and energy policy.
Media additions
“Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland, but it's an important part for the United States, and it's surrounded by Chinese ships and Russian ships. We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe because, as you probably noticed, Europe’s a very different place than it was 20 years ago. If they’re not careful with immigration and energy, you’re not going to have a Europe any more.”
Donald Trump, US President, via Mirror
The Greenland claim has been a recurring flashpoint. Earlier in December 2025, Trump announced that the US “has to have” Greenland for “national security.” The statement resurfaced at the summit, with the president insisting the island “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.”
Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, pushed back, asserting that “the United States wants to own and take over Greenland” but that “this is not going to happen.” Greenland’s own foreign minister, Mute Egede, added that the territory’s future must be decided by its people.
EU‑US military footprint under review
In parallel with the Greenland rhetoric, the Pentagon confirmed last week that roughly 5,000 US troops will be drawn down from Germany. Trump later told reporters that the United States plans to cut “a lot further,” without specifying a timeline.
European leaders at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan on May 4 2026 interpreted the withdrawal as a signal that Europe must assume a larger share of its own security. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the figures “should be handled in a harmonious way inside the framework of NATO.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the call for a “stronger European element in NATO.”
German defence minister Boris Pistorius noted that Berlin had not yet received “official confirmation of when and how this is supposed to happen,” but stressed that the reduction “would not put into question NATO’s deterrence capability.” NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte said the alliance was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany.”
What the numbers say
| Country | US troops (EUCOM report, June 30 2025) |
|---|---|
| Germany | 34,894 |
| Italy | 12,319 |
| United Kingdom | 10,180 |
| Spain | 3,253 |
| Turkey | 1,683 |
According to the Department of Defense’s most recent location report, a total of 65,754 active‑duty personnel were stationed across the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility as of June 30 2025. The figures illustrate the scale of any potential withdrawal.
Political fallout and divergent views
Trump’s comments have drawn sharp rebukes from multiple quarters. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that “the future of Greenland is up to the people of Greenland and of Denmark, and not up to the US president.”
In Denmark, Prime Minister Frederiksen warned allies to “respect the sovereignty of the Danish kingdom” and said there were “no plans to discuss issues concerning the High North, the Arctic or Greenland while in Ankara.”
Within the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that “conversations with Denmark and Greenland were continuing on a monthly basis.” Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who announced the 5,000‑troop pull‑out, also signalled a broader review of US force posture in Europe, describing NATO allies’ response to the Iran war as “shameful.”
Trump also hinted at a shift in US‑Turkey relations, saying sanctions on Ankara would be lifted and expressing openness to future F‑35 sales. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin welcomed the prospect, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that arming Turkey could upset the Middle‑East balance.
Timeline of key moments
- December 2025 – Trump first declares that the US “has to have” Greenland for national security.
- January 2026 – At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump rules out the use of force to acquire Greenland.
- May 4 2026 – European Political Community summit in Yerevan; leaders discuss US troop drawdown and call for stronger European NATO role.
- July 7 2026 – NATO summit in Ankara; Trump repeats Greenland claim and threatens full US troop withdrawal from Europe.
- July 7 2026 (later) – Pentagon announces 5,000‑troop reduction from Germany; Trump hints at “cutting a lot further.”
What to watch next
Analysts say the coming weeks will determine whether Trump follows through on the threat to remove all US forces from Europe. Key indicators include:
- Official US Department of Defense orders detailing the scope and timetable of any further withdrawals.
- Responses from NATO’s defence‑spending committees, especially any moves toward the “5 percent of GDP” target Trump has repeatedly invoked.
- Developments in the diplomatic dialogue between the United States, Denmark and Greenland’s government, potentially mediated through the US State Department.
- Reactions at the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels, where allies are expected to address both the troop drawdown and the Greenland dispute.
The convergence of a strategic territorial claim and a potential reshaping of the US military footprint in Europe has placed NATO at a crossroads. As the alliance grapples with funding gaps, the Iran war and a rising Chinese presence in the Arctic, the outcome of Trump’s latest overtures could redefine transatlantic security for years to come.
For ongoing coverage of the summit and its implications, see our World page.
