U.S. President Donald Trump said late Sunday that Denmark has failed to counter what he described as a “Russian threat” in Greenland, adding that the United States would step in to address the issue.
In a post on social media, Trump said NATO had warned Denmark for more than two decades about the need to remove Russian influence from Greenland, but claimed no effective action had been taken. He added that the time had come for the situation to be resolved.
The remarks came just days after Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on several major European economies, including Denmark, France, and the United Kingdom. His Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, also said earlier on Sunday that what he described as European weakness justified U.S. control over Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly called for Greenland to be transferred to U.S. authority, arguing that the territory holds strategic importance for American national security. He has consistently cited potential threats from Russia as a risk to both the island and broader U.S. security interests.
European leaders have strongly rejected Trump’s claims and his tariff threats, with France indicating it is prepared to consider retaliatory economic measures. Trump has also raised the prospect of military action in Greenland, a warning analysts say carries greater weight following the recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
Observers have cautioned that aggressive U.S. pressure over Greenland could undermine the future cohesion of NATO. Greenland remains a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
