US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should actively support the United States in acquiring control of the Arctic territory.
Trump’s remarks came just hours before US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to meet Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington for talks on Greenland’s future. Greenland remains a semi-autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty, though its strategic location and natural resources have increasingly drawn global attention.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed the United States “needs Greenland for the purpose of national security,” linking the territory to America’s expanding missile defence ambitions, including what he described as the “Golden Dome” project. He argued that NATO should take a leading role in facilitating US control over Greenland, warning that failure to do so could allow rival powers to gain influence in the region.
Trump cautioned that Russia or China could seek to establish a foothold in Greenland if the US and its allies do not act decisively. “That is not going to happen,” he wrote, stressing that American military strength remains central to NATO’s effectiveness as a global deterrent.
The US president also credited himself with rebuilding US military power during his first term, claiming that NATO’s current strength depends heavily on American capabilities. According to Trump, placing Greenland under US control would significantly enhance the alliance’s strategic posture in the Arctic and beyond. “Anything less than that is unacceptable,” he declared.
With Vice President Vance’s meetings set to focus on cooperation and regional security, Trump’s remarks underscore how Greenland remains a flashpoint in broader debates over Arctic dominance, alliance politics, and global power rivalry.
