US President Donald Trump has renewed his controversial demand that the United States should take control of Greenland from NATO ally Denmark, reviving diplomatic tensions just as the 2026 NATO summit opened in Ankara, Turkey on Tuesday.
Speaking during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump argued that Denmark neglects the semi-autonomous territory, which he views as strategically vital due to the presence of Chinese and Russian vessels. "That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump told reporters, claiming Denmark's refusal had damaged his relationship with the broader military alliance.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, also in Ankara for the summit, swiftly dismissed the assertion. She stressed that Greenland is not for sale and firmly stated her expectation that allies respect Danish sovereignty, ruling out any summit discussions regarding the Arctic territory. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Mute Egede echoed this sentiment online, emphasizing that the island's future will be decided solely by its people. Despite the friction, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted last month that routine discussions with Denmark and Greenland remain ongoing.
The renewed transatlantic tension comes as European leaders attempt to appease the US president with increased defense commitments. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte opened the two-day summit by unveiling billions of dollars in new military projects, framing the investments as "money well spent" to build a stronger Europe.
In a separate diplomatic shift during his visit, Trump announced the US will lift sanctions on Turkey. The penalties were originally imposed over Ankara’s purchase of a Russian missile defense system, which had excluded the country from the F-35 fighter jet program.
