Donald Trump has accused NATO of failing to back the U.S. during its standoff with Iran, while also renewing complaints about Greenland.
Trump held a private discussion at the White House this week with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. After the meeting, he posted a blunt message on Truth Social:
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.”
In the lead-up to Wednesday’s sit-down, Trump had floated the possibility of leaving the alliance after several NATO members pushed back on requests to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz as oil prices surged.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also criticized the alliance, saying NATO countries had ‘turned their backs on the American people’ and that Trump would have a ‘very frank and candid conversation’ with Rutte.
According to BBC News, a central aim of the meeting was to persuade Trump that remaining in NATO benefits both him and the United States.
The talks took place amid growing tension between the Trump administration and NATO, linked in part to disagreements over Trump’s stated intention to take control of Greenland.
Following his meeting with Rutte, Trump again turned to Truth Social to vent about Greenland, writing:
“REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
Trump’s idea of acquiring Greenland—an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark—was firmly rejected by Denmark as well as many people in Greenland.
He later threatened annexation and, addressing Greenland’s residents, said:
“If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.
“We need Greenland for national security and even international security.”
Trump continued to insist the U.S. must obtain Greenland, stating the country was ‘going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not’.
He argued that failing to do so would open the door to geopolitical rivals, adding:
“If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,”
At the same time, he brushed aside concerns from allies and NATO partners, claiming the alliance needs the U.S. ‘more than we need them’.
When asked on January 11 whether pursuing Greenland could harm the U.S. relationship with NATO, Trump replied:
“If it affects NATO, then it affects NATO. But, you know, they need us much more than we need them, I will tell you that right now.”
He went on to say:
“Greenland should make the deal because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over. Greenland, basically their defense is two dogsleds.”
If a U.S. move into Greenland ever escalated into an invasion, it could create an unprecedented scenario for the alliance—particularly because Denmark is a NATO member.
As a result, NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense commitment could come into play if military force were used to annex Greenland, pushing the alliance into legally and politically uncharted territory.