Trump reignited tensions with NATO allies on Tuesday after reviving his demand that the United States should control Greenland while accusing European nations of failing to pay their fair share for the alliance’s defense.
Speaking alongside NATO leaders in Ankara, Trump argued that Greenland is strategically vital to U.S. national security and claimed Denmark has not done enough to protect the Arctic territory. He also repeated long-standing complaints that European members rely too heavily on American military spending, saying the United States has carried a disproportionate share of NATO’s defense burden.
“I’m not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact they didn’t want to help us with the No. 1 state sponsor of terror — that’s Iran,” the 47th president told reporters. “They were unwilling to help us.”
Trump went further by suggesting the U.S. could reduce or withdraw its military presence in Europe if allies do not meet defense commitments, reviving concerns about America’s long-term commitment to the alliance. His remarks drew renewed attention to earlier threats to scale back U.S. involvement in NATO if member nations fail to increase military spending.
Despite the heated rhetoric, Trump later struck a more conciliatory tone during the summit, praising allies for boosting defense budgets and describing the gathering as one marked by “tremendous unity.” NATO leaders concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to the alliance’s collective defense principle under Article 5.