Why does the US want Greenland? Explained

The US president arrived at a NATO summit and immediately revived a demand that has baffled allies for years: that America should take control of Greenland. Donald Trump’s renewed push for the Arctic territory, combined with threats to pull all US troops out of Europe, has thrown the alliance into fresh turmoil just as leaders gathered in Ankara to discuss defence spending and global security. Trump’s comments also touched on immigration, energy policy and the UK’s stance on the war in Iran, highlighting a growing rift between Washington and its European partners.

At its simplest, the dispute is about a vast, ice-covered island that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark – a fellow NATO member. Greenland is autonomous, but Denmark handles its foreign and defence affairs. Trump argues that the US should control Greenland because of its strategic location and natural resources. He claimed that Denmark “doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland” and that the territory is “surrounded by China ships and Russian ships”, suggesting that American ownership would counter rival powers. Denmark and Greenlandic authorities have repeatedly rejected any talk of a sale or transfer.

“Why the US keeps pushing to acquire Greenland and what it means for NATO and the UK.”

The idea is not new. Trump first floated buying Greenland in 2019, drawing ridicule and a firm no from Copenhagen. At that year’s NATO summit, the dispute nearly derailed talks. Now, in July 2026, Trump has revived it. Arriving in Turkey for the summit, he said the Greenland row had “hurt my relationship with NATO” and complained that the alliance had not supported his military action against Iran. He also suggested the UK’s then-prime minister, Keir Starmer, had lost his job because of his refusal to join the Iran war, though Starmer’s stance was in fact popular with the British public. Trump linked his commitment to European defence to what he saw as failings on immigration and energy: “If they’re not careful with those two things, you’re not going to have a Europe anymore.”

For UK readers, the implications are direct and serious. Britain hosts US military bases and is one of NATO’s largest European spenders. Trump’s threat to remove all American soldiers from Europe would fundamentally alter the continent’s security architecture. The UK has already pushed back on US criticism that it is “lagging behind” on defence spending, with Trump expected to rebuke countries, including the UK, for not making enough progress toward the 3.5% of GDP target by 2035. The prime minister’s decision to stay out of the Iran conflict has also strained ties. Meanwhile, Trump’s complaints about energy policy could affect UK oil and gas drilling, which he has previously criticised.

Q: Why does the US want Greenland? Trump says Greenland is strategically vital because it lies on the shortest route from North America to Europe and is surrounded by Chinese and Russian ships. He claims Denmark does not invest in the territory and that US control would protect against rival powers. The island also holds vast mineral and oil reserves, though extraction is limited by ice and environmental rules.

Q: What does Denmark say? Danish and Greenlandic officials have consistently refused to sell or cede control. Greenland’s government has said it is not for sale and wants to manage its own affairs. Denmark, a founding NATO member, has called Trump’s comments unhelpful and insists its relationship with the US remains strong despite the rhetoric.

Q: How does this affect the UK? The UK is one of NATO’s biggest European contributors and hosts American troops. Trump has directly criticised British defence spending and linked his willingness to defend Europe to UK policies on Iran, immigration and energy. A US troop withdrawal would leave a dangerous gap in European defence, forcing the UK and others to spend far more or face greater vulnerability.

What happens next is unclear. The NATO summit continues with leaders discussing defence targets, the Iran war and tensions with China and Russia. Trump has shown no sign of dropping his Greenland demand, and European allies are bracing for more confrontation. No formal negotiations on Greenland are expected, but the dispute will likely overshadow broader talks on alliance unity and burden-sharing.