Ankara(Turkey), 08 July (H.S.): President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed his call for the United States to take control of Greenland, saying the strategically important Arctic territory should be under American authority rather than Denmark. His remarks, made during the NATO summit in Ankara, once again brought a long-standing diplomatic dispute into the spotlight and prompted an immediate response from Danish leaders.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump argued that Greenland's location makes it vital to the United States' national security. He claimed that the territory is increasingly significant because of growing military and strategic activity in the Arctic involving Russia and China.
Trump also suggested that Denmark had not invested sufficiently in Greenland's development or security, adding that the disagreement over the island had strained relations between Washington and some NATO allies. He maintained that Greenland is of major strategic importance to the United States because of its position in the Arctic, where geopolitical competition has intensified in recent years.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly rejected Trump's remarks, reiterating that Greenland is not for sale and that its future cannot be decided by any foreign government. Speaking later on Tuesday in Ankara, Frederiksen said she expected all NATO allies to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.
She emphasized that Denmark had no plans to discuss Greenland or broader Arctic issues during the NATO summit and stressed that the status of the territory remains unchanged.
Greenland's leadership also responded quickly. Foreign Minister Múte Egede stated that Greenland's future would be determined solely by its own people. In a public statement, he reaffirmed the island's right to self-determination while expressing support for continued close cooperation with international partners and allies.
The renewed exchange highlights a diplomatic issue that first gained global attention during Trump's earlier presidency, when he proposed purchasing Greenland from Denmark. Copenhagen and Greenland's authorities rejected the idea at the time, insisting that the territory's future rests entirely with its residents.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and occupies a strategically important position between North America and Europe. Its vast natural resources, expanding shipping routes due to Arctic ice melt, and military significance have made the region increasingly important in global security discussions.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that discussions between the United States, Denmark and Greenland continue through regular diplomatic channels, indicating that dialogue on Arctic cooperation remains ongoing despite differences over sovereignty.
Trump's latest comments are expected to keep Greenland's geopolitical importance at the centre of international attention as Arctic security, climate change, and great-power competition continue to shape discussions among NATO members and other global powers.
