US President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated his demand that the United States take control of Greenland, calling the self-governing Danish island vital for America’s national security and defence interests.
In a social media post, Trump said the US “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security,” linking the island to the proposed multi-layer missile defence system known as the Golden Dome. He argued that NATO should support US control of Greenland and warned that if Washington did not act, Russia or China could seek influence there.
Trump’s remarks came hours before scheduled talks in Washington involving officials from the United States, Denmark, and Greenland, amid rising diplomatic tensions between Washington and Copenhagen. Denmark is a founding member of NATO, and Trump’s statements have raised concerns among European allies about sovereignty and alliance unity.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said earlier this week that Greenland would choose Denmark over the United States if forced to decide. He stressed that Greenland does not want to be owned, governed by, or become part of the US. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a US military annexation of Greenland would effectively end NATO, saying borders must be respected.
Greenland holds strategic importance due to its location between North America and the Arctic, making it crucial for early warning systems against missile attacks and for monitoring regional activity. The island is also believed to have significant untapped natural resources, including an estimated 36 million tonnes of rare earth elements.
The United States already maintains a military presence at the Pituffik base in Greenland, with more than 100 personnel stationed there under agreements with Denmark that allow troop deployments as needed.