Donald Trump returned this Tuesday to claim Greenland during the NATO summit in Ankara, threatening to withdraw all American troops from Europe and blaming Denmark for the deterioration of his relationship with the alliance.
The statements, recorded by the EFE agency and several international media outlets, were made during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan immediately upon landing in the Turkish capital, turning the inaugural day into a new chapter of transatlantic tension.
The president was straightforward in pointing out the origin of his estrangement from the alliance:
"That's what damaged my relationship with NATO, because Greenland doesn't help Denmark. Denmark doesn't spend money to truly help Greenland. But it is an important part for the United States, and it is surrounded by Chinese and Russian ships, and that's not going to happen."
Trump insisted on a position he has held since the beginning of his second term:
"I have always believed that Greenland should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark."
The threat of withdrawing troops from Europe
Trump escalated his tone with a direct warning to his allies:
"We could withdraw all our soldiers from Europe because, as you may have noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago."
Added a grim forecast: “You better be careful with immigration and energy. If you don't pay attention to those two issues, there will no longer be a Europe.”
Regarding spending on defense, he was equally emphatic: "We have spent billions defending Europe, and they did not treat us well. I didn’t need their help, but they said they weren’t going to help us even before we asked."
Criticism of Italy, Germany, and France for Iran
Trump settled scores with the allies who refused to participate in the military operation against Iran in March 2026 with a brief statement: "Italy said no to us. Germany said no to us. France said no to us."
He also acknowledged that the refusal was a deliberate test.
"I was putting people to the test. I wanted to see if they would really be there for us, because for a long time I've said that we are there for them, but I'm not sure they would be there for us," he asserted
About the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, she adopted a tone that was both condescending and conciliatory:
"She refused to get involved, which strained my relationship with her a bit. But I like her. In fact, I think she's a good person. However, I believe she made a mistake."
Denmark responds: "Greenland is not for sale."
The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, responded firmly from the summit:
"Of course Greenland is not for sale. We have made that clear from the beginning. The Greenlandic people do not wish to become part of the United States. They have made that clear themselves."
Frederiksen also sent a message to the entire alliance: "There are many enemies outside of NATO. We do not need hostilities within the Alliance."
Sanctions lifted on Turkey as a gesture to the host
In exchange for its presence in Ankara, Trump announced the lifting of sanctions imposed on Turkey for the purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system, paving the way for Ankara's potential re-entry into the F-35 fighter jet program.
The president justified the decision with a phrase that summarizes his vision of alliances:
"We do not sanction friends. I have a good relationship with Vladimir Putin, who I know respects Erdogan a lot."
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