Donald Trump has renewed his call for the United States to take control of Greenland, arriving at the NATO summit in Ankara and threatening to withdraw all American troops from Europe if allies do not comply. The US president criticised Denmark, a fellow NATO member, for not spending enough on the territory, claiming it should be under US control due to strategic importance.
Trump also rebuked European allies over defence spending and immigration policies, suggesting that the UK's decision to stay out of the Iran war contributed to Keir Starmer's downfall. He said NATO members were not treating the US well and that Europe had changed significantly in two decades, warning it must be careful with immigration and energy or risk ceasing to exist.
Responding to Trump's remarks, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that Greenland's future is a matter for its people and Denmark, not the US president. She reaffirmed Britain's position since the idea was first mooted, while the UK continues to press ahead with a £37 billion European project to develop a long-range precision missile to reduce reliance on the US.
Reeves also suggested merging a proposed off-balance sheet defence financing mechanism with Canada's Defence, Security and Resilience Bank initiative, which could provide £86 billion in lending capacity for a UK subscription of £900 million. The move comes amid ongoing uncertainty over Trump's commitment to the alliance and the UK's struggle to meet NATO's 3.5% GDP defence spending target by 2035.
