Donald Trump has renewed his push for the United States to acquire Greenland, threatening to withdraw all American troops from Europe if Nato allies continue to resist. Arriving at the Nato summit in Ankara, the US president criticised European leaders over immigration and energy policies, and suggested their stance on the Iran war had undermined the alliance.
Trump singled out the UK for its refusal to join the conflict, claiming former Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision contributed to his political downfall. “I was very disappointed with Nato. We weren’t treated well because we did something in Iran,” Trump told reporters. He also accused Denmark of neglecting Greenland, arguing the territory should be under US control due to strategic concerns over Chinese and Russian activity.
The UK has pushed back against Trump's criticism of defence spending, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves stating: “The future of Greenland is up to the people of Greenland and of Denmark, and not up to the US president.” Reeves also signalled openness to a Canadian-led defence financing initiative, which could provide £86bn in lending capacity for a UK subscription of £900m.
In response to ongoing uncertainty over US commitment, the UK is leading a £37bn European project to develop a long-range precision missile capable of striking targets up to 1,200 miles away. The weapon, developed with France, Germany and Baltic states, aims to reduce Nato's reliance on American military technology.
