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Trump again demands Greenland as NATO unveils military projects worth billions to prove its firepower
🇺🇸 United States /Conflict & Security

Trump again demands Greenland as NATO unveils military projects worth billions to prove its firepower

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • President Donald Trump reiterated his demand for the U.S. to control Greenland, clashing with NATO ally Denmark.
  • Trump also announced the U.S. will lift sanctions on Turkey related to its purchase of Russian missile defense systems.
  • The moves occurred as NATO unveiled billions in military projects at a summit aimed at appeasing Trump and demonstrating alliance strength.

President Donald Trump renewed his assertion that the United States should control Greenland, creating fresh tensions with NATO ally Denmark even as the alliance announced billions in arms deals at a summit. Trump described the semi-autonomous island as "an important part" of the United States and repeated unsubstantiated claims that it is surrounded by Chinese and Russian ships.

That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.

— Donald TrumpRegarding U.S. control over Greenland.

"That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump told reporters in Ankara during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The NATO alliance's founding principle is mutual defense of member territories, not territorial seizure. European leaders and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte were already working to address Trump's persistent complaint that European allies do not invest enough in their own defense.

We're going to be taking the sanctions off, OK?

— Donald TrumpAnnouncing the lifting of sanctions on Turkey.

Separately, Trump announced that the U.S. would lift sanctions on Turkey. These sanctions were imposed after Turkey acquired a Russian missile defense system, which led to its removal from the F-35 fighter jet program. This decision appears to be a gesture toward Erdogan, with whom Trump has maintained warm ties. "We're going to be taking the sanctions off, OK?" Trump stated, indicating that Secretaries Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, were handling the issue.

We have a chemistry that works between us.

— Donald TrumpExplaining his strong relationship with Turkish President Erdogan.

Turkey's acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems in 2019 had caused years of friction, despite the personal rapport between Trump and Erdogan. Removing these sanctions could facilitate Turkey's return to the F-35 program, a key objective for Erdogan. Trump suggested that selling F-35s to Turkey is "something certainly we'd consider" given their relationship, praising Turkey as "much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal." Erdogan expressed optimism that the U.S. would provide the jets, noting Trump's reliability. The two leaders displayed their mutual admiration, with Erdogan hosting Trump with a notable ceremony.

Turkey's been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal.

— Donald TrumpPraising Turkey's loyalty in international relations.
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Originally published by PBS NewsHour. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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