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US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the dispute over control of Greenland has harmed his relationship with NATO, as leaders gathered for a summit in Turkey. Trump made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, repeating his position that the semi-autonomous Danish territory should be under US control.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump's assertions about acquiring Greenland sparked tensions between Washington and Copenhagen—both founding NATO members—and more broadly across Europe, but that the issue has since moved to a diplomatic track. The Post also noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in June that conversations with Denmark and Greenland were continuing monthly.

Russia's state news agency TASS carried similar accounts of Trump's remarks, quoting him as saying that disagreements over Greenland's status are worsening relations between the United States and other NATO members. TASS also reported that the Washington administration announced on January 31 that it had begun talks on Greenland's future status and expressed hope of reaching a deal beneficial for both the United States and Europe, adding that significant progress has been made in the negotiations.

Key Claims

  • Trump said Greenland should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark, during a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
  • He described Greenland as "an important part [of the world] for the United States," asserting that "it's surrounded by China's ships and Russian ships."
  • Trump said the issue of control over Greenland had harmed US ties with NATO, stating, "That's what hurt my relationship with NATO."
  • He contended that "Greenland doesn't help Denmark" and that "Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland."
  • The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump's assertions sparked tensions between Washington and Copenhagen, both founding NATO members, and that the issue has since moved to a diplomatic track.
  • Rubio said in June that conversations with Denmark and Greenland were continuing monthly, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • TASS reported that the Washington administration announced on January 31 that it had begun talks on Greenland's future status and expressed hope of reaching a deal beneficial for both the United States and Europe, with "significant progress" already made.