Trump Reiterates Intentions to Annex Greenland Amid NATO Leader's Caution

During a meeting in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump repeated his assertion that the United States would annex Greenland, prompting a restrained diplomatic response from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who was sitting next to him.

President Trump claimed confidently that the annexation "will happen," arguing that it is necessary for international, not just national, security purposes. Despite acknowledging that Denmark and Greenlandic residents have no intention of transferring control of the island, Trump pointedly referred to Rutte as someone who could be influential in facilitating such a move.

Rutte appeared slightly uncomfortable with the president's comments and sought to distance NATO from the annexation debate. He diplomatically stated his preference to exclude the matter of Greenland's political future from discussions, emphasizing a desire to keep the international military alliance out of potential territorial decisions. Nevertheless, Rutte found common ground with Trump by agreeing on the importance of maintaining robust security activities in northern and Arctic regions.

In a further exchange, Trump highlighted Greenland’s physical distance from Denmark and the existing American military presence there, mentioning the possibility of increasing U.S. troop deployments. His comments seemed to imply consideration of forceful means of securing control over the island.

This conversation occurred within broader discussions addressing various issues, including the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict and NATO funding. The topic of Greenland arose due to Trump's ongoing interest, marking yet another instance in which he publicly floated the idea since his victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Currently, Greenland—recognized as the world's largest island—is governed under Denmark and maintains active defense cooperation with the United States, which allows America to operate certain military installations there, notably the Pituffik Space Base. Historically, the U.S. previously attempted to buy Greenland after World War II, but was rebuffed by Danish authorities. The Danish and Greenlandic governments remain consistent in their position, firmly opposing any notion of sale or annexation of Greenland.