President Donald Trump renewed his demand for American control of Greenland and suggested that the United States could withdraw its military forces from Europe, injecting fresh tension into a NATO summit already focused on defense spending, Iran and the alliance’s long-term security strategy.
Speaking after arriving in Ankara, Türkiye, for the July 7–8 summit, Trump argued that Greenland should be controlled by Washington rather than Denmark. Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which is a NATO member.
Trump claimed Denmark was not investing enough in Greenland and said the Arctic island was strategically important to the United States. He also asserted that Russian and Chinese ships were surrounding the territory, although similar claims about the scale of foreign activity near Greenland have previously been challenged.
The president connected the territorial dispute to America’s wider military role in Europe, suggesting that Washington did not have to continue spending heavily on the continent.
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“We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe,” Trump said while discussing Denmark’s refusal to support his proposal. He also criticized European policies on immigration and energy, warning that the continent had changed significantly over the past two decades.
The comments do not amount to a formal order to withdraw American troops. However, they are likely to deepen concern among European governments about whether U.S. military commitments could become linked to unrelated political or territorial disputes.
Denmark and other Nordic governments rejected Trump’s position. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Greenland was “not for sale” and called on NATO members to respect Greenlanders’ right to self-determination, as well as Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Leaders from Norway, Finland and Iceland issued similar statements. Iceland’s prime minister said Greenland’s people did not want to become part of the United States, while Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said decisions about the territory belonged to Greenland and Denmark.
Trump also criticized NATO countries that declined to participate in the U.S.-led conflict with Iran. He expressed particular frustration with the United Kingdom and incorrectly suggested that Keir Starmer was no longer prime minister.
Starmer has announced his intention to resign once the governing Labour Party selects his successor, but he remains prime minister during the transition and attended the Ankara summit in that role. UK parliamentary guidance states that a prime minister formally remains in office until resigning and a successor is appointed.
The broader disagreement comes as NATO governments face pressure to demonstrate that they can assume more responsibility for Europe’s defense. Under the alliance’s 2025 agreement, members committed to spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense and related security priorities by 2035. That includes at least 3.5% for core military requirements and up to 1.5% for infrastructure, cybersecurity, resilience and defense-industry investment.
European leaders used the Ankara meeting to highlight new investments intended to reduce dependence on American capabilities. The UK announced that 12 countries planned to spend more than $50 billion, or approximately £37 billion, over 10 years on long-range precision-strike technology.
According to the British government, some of the planned systems could reach targets more than 2,000 kilometers away. The initiative is expected to involve cooperation on weapons development, technology and manufacturing rather than the purchase of a single missile.
Trump’s remarks combine two potentially destabilizing disputes. One concerns how much Europe should contribute to its own security. The other concerns the sovereignty of territory belonging to an allied country. Linking the future of American forces in Europe to Denmark’s rejection of a Greenland transfer could make negotiations over defense spending more politically difficult, even as European governments accept the need for greater investment.
Why It Matters
Any major reduction in the American military presence would affect NATO planning, European deterrence and the security of countries closest to Russia. For U.S. taxpayers, the debate also raises questions about the cost and purpose of maintaining forces overseas. For Greenlanders and Denmark, however, the central issue remains territorial sovereignty and whether decisions about the island’s future will be made by its own people.
What Comes Next
NATO leaders are expected to continue negotiations over defense investment, support for Ukraine and Europe’s responsibility for regional security. Denmark and Greenland are unlikely to reconsider their opposition to American ownership, while European governments will watch closely for any formal U.S. review of troop deployments following Trump’s remarks.
Trump addressed Greenland and NATO during remarks at the summit in Ankara.
🇺🇸 Trump at the Ankara summit:
“I am not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland and Iran.”
NATO’s crime on Greenland being, apparently, not handing it over.
Writer: Juliepic.twitter.com/MnqRSSZxFf https://t.co/b9z0IXA9s6
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 8, 2026
