Trump renews demand for U.S. control of Greenland during NATO summit in Ankara as alliance highlights new multi-billion military projects

U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his call that Greenland should be controlled by the United States rather than Denmark during a NATO summit meeting in Ankara, Turkey, as the alliance unveiled new military projects described as worth billions aimed at demonstrating allied firepower. Trump made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to reports carried by multiple U.S. outlets covering the summit.

NATO’s messaging in Ankara emphasized the scale of ongoing defense efforts, with the alliance showcasing military projects “worth billions” to counter a recurring Trump criticism that European members are not doing enough on their own defense. NATO operates on the principle that member countries will defend each other’s territory, and Denmark is a NATO member that is closely tied to Greenland’s political status through the Kingdom of Denmark.

While Trump’s Greenland remarks drew attention to a long-running sovereignty dispute, his trip also included a distinct policy announcement affecting another NATO-related country. Trump said the United States would lift sanctions imposed on Turkey after Ankara acquired a Russian missile defense system, a move that was linked in reporting to Turkey’s later removal from the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was among officials addressing media during the summit, where alliance leaders and participating governments worked to manage tensions tied to Washington’s demands on European defense spending. In addition to the alliance’s defense-industry announcements, NATO’s agenda in Ankara has included addressing disputes and long-standing political friction surrounding member commitments and procurement decisions.

The sanctions announcement indicated a separate track at the summit, one focused on U.S.-Turkey relations and the consequences of missile-defense procurement. By tying the sanction lift to the aftermath of Turkey’s Russian missile system acquisition, the decision drew attention to how quickly Washington is prepared to adjust penalties as Ankara’s alignment with U.S. and NATO priorities evolves.

Separate from NATO’s internal debates over burden-sharing and procurement, Greenland’s status remains a sensitive issue in international diplomacy. The renewed U.S. demand for control, as described by reporters covering the Ankara meeting, is likely to complicate alliance coordination because Denmark remains within NATO and because Greenland’s governance is tied to the broader constitutional relationship between Greenland and Denmark.

NATO’s defense announcements and the U.S. policy decisions were presented during the summit as indicates to domestic and international audiences that allied capabilities are expanding and that Washington can reshape sanctions policy based on shifting security considerations. The developments occurred while NATO leaders were also dealing with ongoing disputes about meeting defense-spending expectations and aligning procurement choices across multiple member governments.