President Trump on Wednesday reiterated his controversial pitch that NATO cannot effectively deter Russia and China unless the United States takes control of Greenland, calling anything less “unacceptable” in a blunt message aimed at European alliance partners. Trump made the remarks in a posting on Truth Social as tensions over Arctic security and the fate of the strategically vital island continue to mount.
“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,” Trump wrote. He insisted that Greenland must be under U.S. control, not merely defended by allies, arguing that Russia or China could otherwise fill any power vacuum. Trump added that if the U.S. does not secure Greenland, “Russia or China will,” language that has alarmed many NATO capitals.
Trump’s renewed push for control of Greenland comes as high-level U.S., Danish and Greenlandic officials met in Washington to discuss security cooperation in the Arctic. Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly rebuffed U.S. efforts to acquire the island, stressing that its future must be decided by Denmark and the Greenlandic people. Danish and Greenlandic leaders have made clear that Greenland is “not for sale,” and that any discussion of U.S. control via force or annexation would violate international norms.
European NATO allies have mobilized in response to the dispute. Troops from countries such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden have begun arriving in Greenland as part of efforts to bolster defense and reassure Denmark and Greenland of NATO’s commitment to Arctic security amid U.S. pressure. These deployments are part of Operation Arctic Endurance, a multinational exercise focused on joint defense in the region.
Trump has linked his Greenland ambitions to broader military initiatives, including a planned missile defense network dubbed the “Golden Dome,” which he says would shield the U.S. from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missile threats. While details of the system remain vague, Trump and supporters argue that Greenland’s location is crucial to such defenses and general deterrence strategy.
Critics in Europe and within NATO warn that pressuring Denmark and Greenland could fracture the alliance, with some officials saying any unilateral U.S. move to seize the island would seriously undermine trust among allies and could even threaten NATO’s cohesion. Russia has also weighed in, dismissing Western claims of its intentions toward Greenland as exaggerated while criticizing the dispute as unhelpful for regional stability.
Amid the diplomatic standoff, Greenlandic leaders continue to stress their right to self-determination and defense through NATO, not U.S. ownership, underscoring a deep divide between U.S. strategic ambitions and allied perspectives on Arctic security.
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