Donald Trump reignited his campaign to seize Greenland at the annual NATO summit in Ankara, forcing Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to defend her country's territorial integrity against a military ally. Trump declared Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark" and claimed "Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland." The following day, he added: "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's response was unequivocal. "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," she told reporters in Ankara. "I hope all allies will respect the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination." She added: "We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory."
The remarks made front pages worldwide and revived European anxieties about transatlantic security ties. For Europeans, the episode recalled January — six months ago — when Trump threatened to impose a 10% tariff on eight European countries to pressure Denmark into ceding Greenland. That dispute lasted five days and brought the 77-year-old alliance closer to collapse than at any point in its history. The EU, which shares 23 members with NATO, convened an emergency summit to prepare for what could've become a full-scale trade war.
The Fragile Diplomatic Fix
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte defused the January crisis by meeting Trump in Davos, Switzerland, and striking a "framework deal" to enhance security in Greenland and the Arctic. After that, Greenland briefly disappeared from headlines as political attention shifted to Ukraine, Russia, China and the Middle East.
Since then, Denmark and Greenland have quietly pursued trilateral talks with the White House to find common ground on the island, still governed by a 1951 bilateral defence agreement — 75 years old. The diplomatic track has moved slowly and hasn't delivered tangible results. Two months ago, the New York Times reported the US was pushing for a forever clause on military deployments and veto power over new investments to block Russia and China, two demands that directly challenge sovereignty.
On Tuesday, Rutte promised to "make sure the deal is step-by-step implemented" so Trump can eventually install the Golden Dome on Greenland. The multi-layer, multi-billion-dollar defence system is in early development. Danish officials privately warn the White House can still resort to alternative methods to advance annexation through non-military means and urge European peers to stay on high alert rather than fall into complacency.
Brussels Backs Denmark
The European Commission issued a statement: "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 isn't pulling its weight.
President Ursula von der Leyen initially planned to visit Greenland four months ago in March to unveil a beefed-up financial package, but the trip was indefinitely postponed after Frederiksen called snap elections. The visit is still under consideration.
Tiago Antunes, an associate senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, 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 Greenland push exposes the fundamental fragility of Europe's security architecture. For 77 years, NATO has rested on the assumption that member states respect each other's borders. That assumption is now openly challenged by the alliance's most powerful member. Denmark's position is legally and morally correct — Greenland isn't for sale — but legal correctness doesn't guarantee security. The episode underscores the urgent need for Europe to invest in its own defence capabilities and reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable transatlantic partner. The Commission's updated Arctic strategy and von der Leyen's planned Greenland visit are steps in the right direction, but they must translate into real military and economic presence. Europe can't afford to assume the alliance will hold simply because it always has. The trust that underpins collective defence is no longer automatic — it must be rebuilt, or replaced.