ANKARA, JULY 8: Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday rejected US President Donald Trump’s renewed calls for Washington to take control of Greenland, asserting that the autonomous territory is not for sale and its people’s right to self-determination must be respected.
Speaking ahead of a NATO leaders’ meeting in Türkiye, Frederiksen said Denmark and its allies must respect territorial integrity and sovereignty, adding that the country was prepared to defend every part of NATO territory, including its own.
“Greenland is of course not for sale,” Frederiksen said, stressing that Greenland’s future should be decided by its people.
Trump revived his long-standing interest in controlling Greenland just before the NATO summit, reigniting tensions with Denmark, a US ally within the alliance. NATO’s founding principle requires members to defend each other’s territories rather than threaten territorial claims against fellow allies.
Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir also backed Greenland’s right to self-determination, urging NATO members to remain united against external threats, particularly from Russia.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte defended the latest US military strikes against Iran, saying Washington’s response was necessary after Tehran allegedly violated a ceasefire by targeting merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Rutte said the United States remained committed to NATO and supported President Trump’s demand that European allies and Canada increase defence spending to match US contributions.
The NATO summit in Ankara focused on strengthening alliance defence commitments, increasing military spending and addressing security challenges, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
NATO leaders also sought to demonstrate unity amid concerns over Trump’s repeated criticism of the alliance and his calls for greater financial contributions from European members.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his appeal for Ukraine’s membership in NATO, arguing that his country’s military experience would strengthen the alliance’s defence capabilities.
Trump was also expected to hold talks with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the summit, as discussions continued over regional security and future US engagement in Syria.
