Chicago – July 07, 2026
President Donald Trump opened the NATO summit with a sharp revival of two long-running grievances: his demand that the United States should control Greenland and his criticism that alliance partners have not done enough for Washington. Trump said Greenland “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark,” citing security concerns and the island’s strategic location near Russia and China, according to multiple reports.
He also reiterated that he was “very disappointed” with NATO allies over their response to the Iran conflict, putting a combative tone on a summit already clouded by questions about transatlantic unity. Trump’s remarks renewed tensions with Denmark, a NATO member that governs Greenland, and raised fresh uncertainty about the alliance’s cohesion as leaders gathered to discuss defense spending and regional security.
The comments came as Trump again hinted that U.S. military commitments in Europe could be reconsidered, underscoring how his return to the White House has reintroduced pressure on NATO at a moment of heightened global instability.
