US President Donald Trump has threatened to pull American troops out of Europe and renewed his demand for control of Greenland, plunging the Nato summit in Ankara into crisis. Arriving in Turkey for a key meeting of the military alliance, Trump immediately lashed out at allies, reviving his push to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Trump's Greenland Demand
At a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump stated that Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark." He added, "Because Greenland doesn’t help Denmark. Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland." The demand risks a fresh rift within Nato, as Denmark is a founding member of the alliance.
Threat to Withdraw Troops
Trump launched into a tirade about US spending in Europe, criticizing European nations for allowing high levels of migration. "We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, because as you probably noticed, Europe’s a very different place than it was 20 years ago," he said. "They better be careful with immigration and energy. If they’re not careful with those two things, you’re not going to have a Europe anymore." Approximately 80,000 US troops are stationed in Europe, forming a critical part of Nato's defense and deterrence against aggression.
Disappointment with Allies
Trump expressed disappointment with Nato, singling out Britain, France, Germany, and Italy for failing to join his conflict with Iran. He also accused allies of freeloading off the US on defense spending. Trump indicated he would have skipped the summit if not for Erdogan, whom he called "a very strong leader."
UK Response
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived in Ankara for the summit alongside Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, refused to bow to Trump's threats. "He wants me to yield on my position, and I'm not going to do so," Starmer insisted. Chancellor Rachel Reeves told reporters, "The future of Greenland is up to the people of Greenland and of Denmark, and not up to the US President. I’ve been very clear about that ever since it was first suggested."
Summit Context
Trump's demands come amid broader tensions within Nato over defense spending and strategic priorities. The US president had earlier sparked controversy by suggesting the US could withdraw from the alliance if allies did not increase their contributions. The summit is expected to see further clashes over burden-sharing and global security commitments.
