President Donald Trump has once again floated the idea of the U.S. securing Greenland, telling NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the alliance might need to step in. The comment came during Oval Office talks on Thursday, reigniting a controversial proposal he first made in 2019.
When asked by reporters about the possibility of annexing Greenland, Trump didn’t mince words. “I think it will happen,” he declared, adding that U.S. security interests demand it. Turning to Rutte, he said, “Mark, we need that for international security. We’ve got some of our favorite players cruising around up there, and we need to be careful.”
Rutte, chuckling, tried to sidestep the topic, saying he preferred to keep NATO out of the discussion. But he did acknowledge Trump’s concerns about Russia and China’s growing presence in the Arctic, agreeing that Western nations should work together under U.S. leadership to maintain security in the region.
More U.S. Troops in Greenland?
Trump made it clear the U.S. already has a military footprint on the island, mentioning “a couple of bases” and “quite a few soldiers” stationed there. He even hinted at ramping up troop numbers. Addressing Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth with a grin, he teased, “What do you think about that, Pete? Don’t answer that.”
His remarks didn’t sit well in Greenland. Outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede quickly fired back on Facebook, slamming the idea of annexation. “Enough is enough,” he wrote, making it clear Greenland wasn’t interested in Trump’s plans.
Why Greenland Matters
With vast untapped resources and a prime Arctic location, Greenland has long been a strategic prize. It spans 2.2 million square kilometers but has a population of only about 60,000. The island is already home to Thule Air Base, a key U.S. military installation.
Trump, however, seems to be looking beyond just maintaining a presence—he’s hinting at something much bigger. Whether NATO or Denmark will entertain such an idea remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this conversation is far from over.
