Donald Trump revived his ambition to seize Greenland after arriving in Ankara for the annual NATO summit, forcing Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to again defend Denmark's integrity against one of its own military allies. Trump said Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark" and added, "Greenland doesn't help Denmark. Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland." The next day, he said, "Greenland is very important for the United States, but it's not important for Denmark. I'm not happy with NATO for what they did with Greenland."
Frederiksen told reporters in Ankara: "The US position is, unfortunately, very clear on this topic. But our position is as clear as it has been all through: Greenland is not for sale. I hope all allies will respect the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination." She also said: "We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory."
A Reawakened Trauma
The remarks immediately made front pages worldwide and revived fears in Europe about the durability of transatlantic security ties. For Europeans, the episode recalled January, when Trump threatened to impose a 10% tariff on eight European countries to pressure Denmark into giving up Greenland. That dispute lasted five days and brought the transatlantic alliance closer to collapse than at any time in its 77-year history. The EU, which shares 23 members with NATO, convened an emergency summit of leaders to prepare for what could have become a full-scale trade war.
The clash was later defused by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who met Trump in Davos, Switzerland, and struck a "framework deal" to enhance security in Greenland and the entire Arctic region. After that, Greenland briefly disappeared from the main conversation and political attention shifted back to Ukraine, Russia, China and the Middle East.
Slow Diplomacy, Sovereignty at Risk
Since then, Denmark and Greenland have discreetly pursued trilateral talks with the White House to find a new common understanding on the island, which is still governed by a 1951 bilateral defence agreement. The diplomatic track has moved slowly and has yet to deliver any tangible results. In May, the New York Times reported that the US was pushing to secure a forever clause on military deployments and veto power over new investments to stave off Russia and China, two requests that directly challenge sovereignty.
On Tuesday, Rutte promised to "make sure the deal is step-by-step implemented" so that Trump can eventually install the Golden Dome on Greenland. The multi-layer, multi-billion-dollar defence system is in the early stages of development. Danish officials privately warn that the White House can still resort to alternative methods to advance annexation through non-military means and urge their European peers to stay on high alert rather than fall into complacency.
EU Stands Firm on Sovereignty
The European Commission said: "Territorial integrity, national sovereignty and inviolability of borders are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential not only for the European Union, but for nations around the world. We will not stop defending them, and the EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland." The Commission is updating its Arctic security strategy to strengthen the European presence in the region and expand investments to counter Trump's long-running complaint that the continent is not pulling its weight.
President Ursula von der Leyen initially planned to visit Greenland in March to unveil a beefed-up financial package, but the trip was indefinitely postponed after Frederiksen called for snap elections. The visit is still under consideration.
Tiago Antunes, an associate senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), said: "From a geopolitical, strategic, or even economic standpoint, President Trump's arguments for the need to secure US ownership of Greenland simply don't hold up. His fixation on Greenland looks like nothing more than a real estate impulse, which is precisely why it keeps resurfacing." He added: "And it is deeply troubling, obviously, for a defence alliance when one of its own members insists on taking control of an ally's territory. That undermines the very trust the alliance is built on."
Why This Matters:
Trump's renewed threat against Greenland exposes the fragility of the transatlantic security order at a moment when Europe can least afford it. The dispute isn't just about Arctic territory — it's about whether the principles of sovereignty and self-determination still matter within NATO, or whether smaller allies can be coerced by larger ones. For the Greenlandic people, whose right to self-determination Frederiksen invoked, the episode is a reminder that their future remains subject to great power bargaining. For Europe, it's a test of whether the EU can defend the territorial integrity of its own members when challenged by an ally. The Commission's pledge of solidarity is necessary, but without concrete investment in Arctic security and a unified diplomatic front, words alone won't deter future threats. The real question is whether Europe has the political will to build the strategic autonomy it has long promised — or whether it will remain dependent on an alliance partner who views sovereignty as negotiable.