Danish PM says Greenland is ‘not for sale’ as Trump joins NATO leaders in Turkey

US President Donald Trump took aim at his NATO partners during a summit in Türkiye on Wednesday, saying he was unhappy with the alliance for its response to his ceasefire efforts. Control of Greenland And not supporting his war in Iran.

European NATO members as well as Canada rushed to meet the increase Defense spending goals Trump demanded that, at a time when the United States was withdrawing the number of its forces present in Europe, he insisted that the continent bear more responsibility for its security.

But Trump reopened old wounds upon arriving at the meeting 32 NATO commanders By insisting again that the United States should control Greenland, A semi-autonomous Danish region. He criticized some European countries for refusing to participate in the campaign against Iran. Spotlight on Spain As a “terrible NATO partner” and Renewing his threats To cut off trade.

Ahead of the summit, Trump said Greenland was “very important” to the United States but not to Denmark, declaring, “We need it to protect the world, not just the United States.”

But Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country was “prepared to defend every inch of NATO, including our territory” in the event of an attack, and would rely on NATO allies to respect their commitments. Commitment to defending each other.

“We hope that everyone, including all allies, will respect the right of the people of Greenland to self-determination,” Frederiksen said before the summit. “Greenland is of course not for sale.”

Trump has been criticized in the past – Bringing European countries closer together At a time when it faces two wars in Ukraine and Iran, and a ballooning trade deficit with China, and Threats From Russia. However, this unit can be tested at the top.

The president is renewed Interest in Greenland It could put your entire future at risk NATO, founded in 1949 to confront the threat posed by the Soviet Union to European security during the Cold War.

The organization usually focuses on external threats, not threats from within.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to calm the president’s anger by pointing to recent increases in defense spending from NATO allies.

“I believe that without you in this chair, this would not have happened,” Rutte told Trump during their meeting on Wednesday morning. “Seize the win. It’s there.”

Before the summit, Rutte praised Trump A series of US strikes on Iran Overnight, after Tehran hit three commercial ships In the Strait of Hormuz.

“I think what I did last night was absolutely necessary,” Rutte told Trump. The response has been very strong, and I am with you on that.”

The US strikes, as well as the cancellation of the license allowing Iran to sell its oil on global markets, highlighted the fragility of the interim agreement to end months of fighting.

“For me, I think it’s over,” Trump said of the interim deal with Iran – but added that he would allow the talks to continue.

“It’s just a waste of time to deal with them,” he added.

Rutte responded to Trump’s criticism of NATO members by highlighting several countries that are already investing more, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark and Greece.

“The commitment is undoubtedly there,” Rutte said before chairing the summit, but noted that the Trump administration expects the Europeans and Canadians to “equalize their spending with that of the United States.”

In an attempt last month to placate the US president, Rutte went to Washington to praise the “Trump trillion” – the $1.2 trillion that European allies and Canada have added to defense spending since Trump came to power in 2017.

Yet Trump demanded “loyalty” and “loyalty.” He described NATO as a “paper tiger.” After some allies refused to give US forces open access to their bases to attack Iran.

As the leaders gathered in Ankara, Rutte hosted a “big reveal” event to showcase the numerous deals planned to increase spending — much of which will be spent on U.S. companies, creating thousands of jobs for Americans.

Trump has long claimed that the United States bears more than its fair share of NATO’s defense burden. At last year’s summit, the allies agreed to this Investing 5% of its GDP in defense – 3.5% on defense budgets and 1.5% on infrastructure so that troops and equipment can move faster in times of conflict.

However, new figures released by NATO on Tuesday showed that Slovenia, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic struggled to meet the alliance’s old spending target of 2% of GDP.

The Trump administration wants to see a more flexible and lethal “NATO 3.0,” in which Europe takes responsibility for its security, including Ukraine’s, using conventional weapons while America continues to provide its nuclear umbrella.

However, the Pentagon fired A six-month review of the US military presence In Europe, leaving allies searching for clarity on how deeply Trump intends to reduce US troop numbers.

president Volodymyr Zelensky It made a new appeal on Tuesday to allow Ukraine to join the alliance, saying that the Ukrainian armed forces were highly experienced and would only strengthen NATO’s defense capabilities.

Zelensky, who is expected to do so Meeting with Trump in Ankara On Wednesday, he highlighted Ukraine’s adaptability and ability to strike deep into Russia, hitting Moscow’s oil refineries and other energy targets. He said that the Ukrainian armed forces “eliminate” an average of 30,000 Russian soldiers every month.

Concern is growing among some northern, central and eastern European countries that Russia may be preparing a hybrid attack – a mix of conventional warfare with tactics such as cyberattacks – on the continent as President Vladimir Putin struggles to confront it. Achieving victory in Ukraine.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a member of the congressional delegation attending the NATO summit, said at a news conference on Wednesday that she hoped there would be a “new commitment” to Ukraine, and that the momentum on the battlefield was in Kiev’s favor.

“We need to do everything we can to increase pressure on Russia to come to the table,” she said.

Trump will too They meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel who led the offensive that ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Although he was once an al-Qaeda fighter, al-Sharaa has won Trump’s support in his quest to rebuild Syria and restore its long-scarred relations with the West.

Trump did Repeatedly suggested Al-Sharaa will do a better job of eradicating Hezbollah from Lebanon than the Israeli army, which raises alarms in Lebanon and Israel alike. The Syrian president said he had no interest in doing so.