Donald Trump rakes up Greenland at Ankara as tensions mount at NATO summit

President Donald Trump said "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," as he once again raised the issue with Denmark on Tuesday (local time). The statement comes as NATO leaders meet in Ankara for a summit, stirring tensions. Trump first floated the idea of buying Greenland during his first term in 2019 and has been a central point of his policy towards NATO in his current term.

The US President has cited national security as a threat, asserting that Denmark is unprepared to guard the island against Russian and Chinese interests. Denmark and Greenland, however, have always resisted suggestions that the territory could be up for sale.

Well, that's what screwed up my relationship with NATO because Greenland doesn't help Denmark. And Denmark don’t spend money to really help Greenland. But it’s an important piece for the United States. And surrounded by Chinese ships and Russian ships." Trump told reporters at the NATO meeting.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who had earlier slammed Trump’s logic, said she stood by her position at the summit later in the day.Greenland’s Foreign Minister Mute Egede also dismissed the statement, writing in a post that “the people of Greenland will decide the future of Greenland” . That's how it's always been. And that’s how it’s going to be for good,” he added in the post .

Trump's revived bid to bring Greenland under US control is based on its strategic location, which provides newly opening Arctic shipping lanes, valuable mineral resources and critical military routes.It is worth noting the US already operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland for missile warning and space surveillance and Trump has argued American control is needed to counter growing Russian and Chinese presence in the region.

The issue has been a source of tension between Washington and Copenhagen in the past. Trump’s earlier attempt to buy Denmark was met with a firm refusal by the country and led him to cancel a planned visit, and he later revived the offer after returning to the White House, this time threatening economic consequences.The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have consistently maintained that the area is not up for sale and refused to accept any transfer of sovereignty.

The American President has renewed his criticism of NATO on the occasion of the NATO summit, stating that he only attended the summit because of Turkiye and would have skipped it under different circumstances.

I was very disappointed by NATO. We did something in Iran, we were not treated well. “We don’t need anybody’s help, but before I asked they said they wouldn’t be there,” Trump told reporters, sounding frustrated with his counterparts.

Trump also reiterated his long-standing criticism of NATO allies for not spending enough on defence and relying too much on the US, an argument European members are now trying to counter with multi-billion pound defence collaborations of their own.