President Donald Trump renewed his call for the United States to control Greenland during the NATO summit in Turkey on Tuesday, saying the Arctic territory should be under U.S. control rather than Denmark's.
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Speaking to reporters alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump said Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark", reviving a position that has strained relations between Washington and Copenhagen, both founding members of NATO.
Greenland Remarks Renew Tensions
Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should acquire or control Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, citing its strategic importance.
Denmark Rejects Proposal
Hours later in Ankara, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly rejected the suggestion, saying NATO allies should respect Denmark's sovereignty and recognise that Greenland was not for sale.
She said it was well known that the United States wanted to take control of Greenland, but stressed that such a move would not happen. Frederiksen also said there were no plans for discussions at the summit on Greenland, the Arctic or the High North.
File photo
Greenland's Foreign Minister Mute Egede echoed Denmark's position, saying the island's future should be decided by its own people.
In a Facebook post, Egede said Greenland's future had always been determined by its population and that this would continue, while adding that the territory should maintain close cooperation with its allies.
Trump Cites Security Concerns
Trump argued that the disagreement over Greenland had affected U.S. relations within NATO.
He said Denmark was not doing enough to support Greenland despite its strategic location, claiming the island was surrounded by Chinese and Russian vessels. Trump also pointed to U.S. spending on European security, particularly in response to Russia, as part of his criticism.
The United States has long viewed Greenland as strategically important because of its location in the Arctic and its role in regional defence.
Diplomatic Talks Continue
Despite the public disagreement, the issue has shifted onto a diplomatic track in recent months.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in June that discussions with Denmark and Greenland were continuing on a monthly basis.
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8 July 2026
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