Trump once again puts Greenland in the crosshairs: "It should be under the control of the United States"

Special correspondent to Ankara (Turkey)Donald Trump is setting fire to relations with Europe and puts Greenland back in the crosshairs just hours before the NATO summit begins. "Greenland should be under the control of the United States, not Denmark," said the North American leader from Ankara (Turkey). Although the leaders' meeting was to focus on rearmament and aid to Ukraine, the President of the United States took the opportunity to revive his expansionist desires with the territory of a NATO ally and member state of the European Union such as Denmark.

For days, Trump has been heating up the summit and attacking various European leaders left and right, but no one expected him to revive threats to Greenland. And, in fact, he has assured that his "disappointment" with NATO began as a result of the clash he had at the beginning of the year with European allies when he threatened to invade the Arctic island, even though he has constantly humiliated and threatened European leaders from the moment he regained the White House.

The North American leader assured that his relationship with the allies is now "conditioned" by Greenland and considers that Denmark "is not doing enough to help" the Arctic island. He also expressed his fears that China or Russia might take it, as they have it "surrounded by ships," and stressed that "strategically it is very important for the United States."

Even the New York tycoon has linked the US military withdrawal from Europe to Greenland's sovereignty and stated that he "began to question" the resources allocated to European defense when European leaders flatly refused to cede the island. "We don't need to make this expense," Trump said he thought at the time. Furthermore, the far-right leader stated that "Europe is a very different place than it was twenty years ago" due to immigration and that, therefore, it makes sense to "withdraw all US soldiers" from the European continent. "If you don't manage immigration well, there will no longer be the Europe we know," he added.

The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, took a few hours to respond to the American president and recalled that the Arctic island is sovereign Danish territory. "It is not for sale. [...] It is a well-known position that the United States wants to own Greenland. And I hope, as always, that it is also a well-known position of the Kingdom of Denmark that this will not happen," added the social democratic leader.

More attacks from European leaders

Trump has reiterated his disappointment with NATO's main allies for not "helping" him with the war in Iran, despite considering that the United States has spent "billions of dollars" on the Atlantic Alliance and has "always been there" for whatever they needed. "We don't need anyone's help, but they haven't treated us well," stated the President of the United States. Nevertheless, NATO's own Secretary General, Mark Rutte, who is very loyal to Trump, admitted that military understanding is defensive and not offensive. Therefore, allies have no obligation to join an attack like that of the United States and Israel against Iran.

Specifically, the American leader has lashed out at the organization's main allies, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy; and has lavished praise on the President of Turkey and host of the meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump has once again referred to the Turkish leader as a "great friend" and has compared the relationship they have with those he maintains with other European leaders. "Sometimes you get along with the toughest people, like him. And, on the other hand, sometimes you don't get along with the weakest and most pathetic people. You just don't connect with them. Maybe it's because you don't respect them," pointed out the New York magnate, who did not clarify which leaders he was referring to.

In fact, the relationship Trump maintains with Erdogan is so good that he has announced that he is lifting the sanctions that the United States was applying to Turkey for its commercial ties with countries like Russia or Iran, and has opened the door to selling him the latest generation F-35 fighter jets. "We don't want to sanction friends. [...] And Turkey has been, in many ways, much more loyal than other traditional allies," said the President of the United States. However, Israel opposes the lifting of the restriction on the sale of these war aircraft from Washington to Ankara because it can substantially increase Turkey's military capabilities and can call into question the air superiority of Israeli troops in the Middle East.

Conciliatory with Meloni and without mentioning Sánchez

Regarding the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, with whom he has clashed on several occasions in recent days, Trump has shown a rather conciliatory tone. Although he reproached her for refusing to get involved in the war in the Middle East, which he described as an "error" and which "somewhat deteriorated" their relationship, he stressed that she is a "good person." "I like her," the American leader insisted.

This time, however, he has not criticized Pedro Sánchez, who is one of those who has most openly opposed the increase in military spending demanded by NATO and, among other things, the war in Iran. Nor has the President of the Spanish government, who has arrived without his wife, Begoña Gómez, in Ankara – although he was received with two bouquets, as if he were to come accompanied – made any statements, because the Spanish justice system has denied him permission to leave the State to accompany his husband. Nevertheless, the Spanish government denies that there is a risk of flight and considers the precautionary measures to be "unnecessary".