Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated definitively on Wednesday that Greenland is not for sale, responding to renewed comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting Washington should acquire the Arctic territory. Speaking to journalists ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, Frederiksen said, "I heard the US president yesterday and I think the US position is unfortunately very clear on this topic. Our position is as clear as it has been all through: Greenland is, of course, not for sale." Trump, arriving in Turkey for the summit, reiterated his interest in Greenland and praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he claimed to have strong chemistry. Trump also expressed disappointment with NATO allies over their stance on Iran, repeating past criticisms.
At the summit, NATO leaders faced pressure from Trump to increase defence spending, with alliance figures showing European core defence expenditure rose to $634 billion in 2026 from $571 billion the previous year. Ahead of the main session, member states announced tens of billions in new arms deals to demonstrate commitment to military investment. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte asserted that European nations were "delivering" by boosting defence budgets and taking greater responsibility for continental security amid ongoing concerns about Russia.
Discussions on Ukraine also took centre stage, with Trump stating he believed both Kyiv and Moscow wanted to end the war. He planned follow-up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the summit's sidelines. Zelensky, speaking at a NATO defence forum, urged greater support for Ukraine's air defences, citing shortages of interceptors, and reiterated Kyiv's desire to join the alliance. NATO members pledged to maintain military aid to Ukraine at 70 billion euros annually through 2027. Trump also scheduled talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, aiming to assist Syria's international reintegration following years of civil conflict.
Trump's push to acquire Greenland exposes a transactional view of sovereign territories that clashes with Denmark's clear stance on national integrity. Frederiksen's direct rejection underscores a diplomatic rift that cannot be papered over by personal rapport with Ankara. The focus on defence spending and arms deals risks reducing alliance cohesion to a balance sheet rather than a shared strategic vision. Zelensky's urgent appeal for air defences reveals a gap between high-level pledges and battlefield realities.
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