President Donald Trump said Greenland should be under United States control rather than Danish control during a meeting in Ankara [1].
The statement signals a potential shift in U.S. Arctic policy and challenges the existing sovereignty of Denmark over the territory. Such a move could disrupt long-standing diplomatic relations between the U.S. and its European allies.
Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 9, 2024 [1], Trump said that Denmark has not sufficiently invested in Arctic security [3]. He said that U.S. control would better protect American strategic interests in the region [3].
"Greenland belongs to the United States, not Denmark," Trump said [4].
President Erdoğan responded to the assertion by saying, "We respect your view, President Trump, and will continue our cooperation within NATO" [5].
Jeff Landry, the U.S. special envoy to Greenland and Governor of Louisiana, later confirmed the president's position [6]. Landry said Trump told him the United States needs to "get a handle" on Greenland again [6].
The remarks occurred on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey [1, 2]. While the focus of the summit remained on collective defense, Trump's comments revived a long-standing interest in the strategic value of the island. Some reports indicated the president hinted at a possible reconsideration of U.S. military presence in Europe, though other accounts focused primarily on missile-defense discussions [7].
“"Greenland belongs to the United States, not Denmark."”
The reiteration of this claim underscores a transactional approach to territorial sovereignty and strategic security. By linking Greenland's control to a perceived lack of Danish investment in Arctic security, the U.S. administration is framing the issue as a matter of national defense rather than simple acquisition. This creates a diplomatic tension point within NATO, as it pits the strategic interests of the U.S. against the sovereign rights of a fellow member state.
