President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated that the United States needs Greenland for national security and suggested that NATO should support efforts to secure the Arctic island. In a Truth Social post, Trump framed the issue as urgent, warning that rival powers could take advantage if the U.S. does not act.
“The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security,” Trump wrote. “It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building. NATO should be leading the way for us to get it. IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!”
Trump emphasized the role of U.S. military strength in supporting NATO, saying the alliance would be less effective without American capabilities. “Militarily, without the vast power of the United States, much of which I built during my first term, and am now bringing to a new and even higher level, NATO would not be an effective force or deterrent — Not even close! They know that, and so do I. NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES. Anything less than that is unacceptable,” he wrote.
The post follows Trump’s appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland. Landry, who assumed office in January 2024, has publicly supported Trump’s position on the island, which has drawn criticism from Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
Trump’s focus on Greenland is rooted in the territory’s strategic location and resources. The island, a self-governing Danish territory with a population of roughly 57,000, sits between Europe and North America, making it important for missile defense and military positioning. It also has significant mineral wealth, which has increased U.S. interest amid global competition.
In recent remarks, Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, that the U.S. needs Greenland “for national security, not for minerals,” noting the presence of Russian and Chinese ships near the island.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen have rejected the notion of U.S. control, emphasizing that Greenland belongs to its residents. “You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security,” they said in a joint statement.
The appointment of Landry and Trump’s renewed emphasis on Greenland have escalated tensions with Copenhagen. Danish officials said they would summon the U.S. ambassador to address the situation, calling the move “completely unacceptable.”
Trump’s announcement also coincides with U.S. actions affecting Danish business interests, including the suspension of leases for offshore wind projects operated by Denmark’s state-controlled Orsted.
Greenland has the legal right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains economically reliant on fishing and Danish subsidies. Its strategic position has made it a focus of U.S. defense planning, and Trump’s comments underline his administration’s ongoing efforts to assert American influence in the Arctic.
