US President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with NATO allies, declaring that Greenland remains strategically important to the United States while threatening to halt trade with Spain over disagreements within the military alliance.
Trump made the remarks on Wednesday as NATO leaders gathered for a summit in Ankara, where he met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The US president expressed frustration with the alliance, accusing it of failing to support Washington on key international issues.
“I’m very upset with NATO. I’m not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran,” Trump said.
Trump also singled out Spain, describing the country as a poor NATO partner and warning of possible trade consequences.
“Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,” he said.
The US president also reiterated his long-standing interest in Greenland, insisting the Arctic territory remains vital to America’s security interests.
“Greenland is a big problem for us. We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States,” Trump said.
Despite Trump’s comments, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the United States and Denmark would continue discussions on expanding the US military presence on the island.
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen maintained that Greenland is “not for sale,” rejecting any suggestion that Denmark would relinquish control of the autonomous territory.
The summit comes as NATO allies seek to reassure Washington of their commitment to increasing defence spending while addressing growing security concerns in Europe and beyond.
Source: AFP
