Denmark says it will defend 'every inch' of Greenland as Trump revives takeover bid at NATO summit

Trump revives Greenland takeover bid

At the NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump renewed his call for the United States to take control of Greenland, calling it a "big problem" and insisting it "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark." He threatened to withdraw all American troops from Europe if his demands were not met, and said he was "not happy" with NATO over the issue. Trump also claimed the territory is "surrounded by China ships and Russian ships," and criticized Denmark for not spending enough to help Greenland. The dispute echoes a similar row earlier this year that sparked a diplomatic crisis with European allies.

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.

Denmark stands firm

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen responded on Wednesday that Greenland is "not for sale" and that Denmark is ready to "defend every inch of Nato," including the semi-autonomous territory. She emphasized the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination and called on allies to respect Denmark's sovereignty. Frederiksen also invoked NATO's founding principle of collective defense, saying that if anything happens to one member, "everybody should stand up for each other."

Our position is clear as it has been all through. Greenland is, of course, not for sale.

NATO chief insists on US commitment

Despite Trump's threats, NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte told reporters that the US president is "completely committed" to the alliance. His comments came as leaders gathered in Ankara amid fraying transatlantic unity and Trump's mercurial attitude toward allies. Rutte's reassurance followed Trump's suggestion that he had considered skipping the summit altogether.

Wider rifts over Iran and spending

Trump also used the summit to criticize European allies over their stance on the Iran war, saying he was "very disappointed" with NATO. He singled out the UK, suggesting that former prime minister Keir Starmer's refusal to join the conflict contributed to his political downfall. The US president also warned that Europe "better be careful with immigration and energy" or risk ceasing to exist. The summit has been further complicated by overnight US strikes on Iran, which threatened a fragile ceasefire and spooked European capitals. Trump also pressed allies to meet the target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2035, a demand that has drawn pushback from countries including the UK.