U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his argument for American control of Greenland during a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, calling the Arctic territory critical to U.S. and global security. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected the idea, saying Greenland “is not for sale” and that Denmark would defend NATO territory while respecting Greenlanders’ right to decide their future.
U.S. President Donald Trump used a NATO leaders’ meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday to renew his push for American control of Greenland, arguing the Arctic island matters more to Washington than to Copenhagen.
Trump linked his claim to World War II history, saying the United States took responsibility for Greenland’s defense after Nazi Germany overran Denmark and suggesting Washington should not have handed the territory back after the war.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back at the summit, reiterating that Greenland “is not for sale.” She said Denmark would respect Greenland’s right to determine its own future and that Copenhagen stands ready to defend NATO territory, including Denmark’s.
Greenland has long been viewed in Washington as strategically important. The U.S. Defense Department operates Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in northwestern Greenland, which supports missile-warning and other defense missions under long-standing U.S.-Danish defense arrangements.
The renewed dispute also comes as Western governments look for alternatives to Chinese dominance in rare earth supply chains. Greenland has been cited by U.S. officials and analysts as a potential source of critical minerals, though the scale and speed of any future mining and processing remain uncertain.
U.S. interest in acquiring Greenland predates Trump. After World War II, the Truman administration made a formal offer to buy Greenland—widely reported as $100 million in gold—which Denmark declined.