Trump reignites Greenland dispute as NATO turns to Iran strikes
A NATO summit intended to address European defence has been upended by renewed US claims over Greenland and overnight American military strikes against Iran, exposing deep fractures within the alliance.
US President Donald Trump has reignited a geopolitical crisis at the NATO summit by restating that the United States should "control" Greenland, prompting a firm rebuke from Denmark's prime minister.
Arriving at the summit on Wednesday, Mette Frederiksen stated unequivocally that "Greenland is of course not for sale." She emphasised that Denmark is a sovereign state requiring respect for its territorial integrity. She warned that the kingdom is prepared to defend itself, noting that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the US.
Trump justified his stance by criticising Copenhagen for failing to financially support the Arctic territory. He argued Denmark cannot defend the massive island against Russian or Chinese vessels he claims are operating in the region. The remarks dashed hopes that the two-day gathering could avoid the territorial dispute that peaked earlier this year.
The public clash threatens to derail the summit's formal agenda. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, alliance officials intend to keep the Greenland issue off the North Atlantic Council's agenda to simply survive the meeting. However, this strategy of avoidance faces mounting strain. The source warned that Trump's pressure tactics are failing and that two more years of such behaviour will be highly damaging to NATO cohesion and European security planning.
The Greenland dispute is not the only disruption. The summit's second day has been overshadowed by overnight US military strikes against Iran, launched in response to the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This military escalation poses immediate risks to European energy markets and commercial shipping routes.
Trump compounded the tension by attacking European allies, specifically Italy and Spain, for denying the US access to military bases during the Iran conflict. European capitals maintain they had no obligation to participate, but Trump told journalists he was "very disappointed" by their response.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attempted to manage the competing crises. He defended the American strikes on Iran as "absolutely necessary" while deflecting questions about Greenland, claiming a "good process" is in place.
