President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States needs Greenland for national security purposes, arguing that control of the Arctic territory is critical to U.S. defense strategy and the effectiveness of NATO.
President Trump posted on Truth Social (Truth Social)
In a post on social media, Trump said Greenland was “vital” to what he described as the construction of the Golden Dome missile-defense system, suggesting the territory plays a strategic role in U.S. military planning. He said NATO should take the lead in securing Greenland for the United States, warning that Russia or China could otherwise seek influence there.
“If we don’t, Russia or China will, and that is not going to happen,” Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. military strength built during his first term was essential to NATO’s deterrence capability.
Trump argued that NATO would not be an effective military alliance without U.S. power and said the alliance would become “far more formidable” with Greenland under U.S. control. He said any outcome short of that would be unacceptable.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has previously rejected U.S. proposals to purchase the island. Denmark has also said Greenland isn’t for sale.
Trump raised the idea of acquiring Greenland in 2019 during his first term, drawing criticism from Danish and Greenlandic officials. His latest comments revive the issue amid heightened geopolitical competition in the Arctic and renewed focus on security alliances.
The Golden Dome missile defense concept refers to a proposed, layered U.S. defense system designed to detect, track and intercept ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles before they reach U.S. territory. It envisions integrating space-based sensors, ground- and sea-based interceptors and allied infrastructure to create a continuous protective shield across North America and key approaches, particularly from the Arctic.
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