Trump Wants to Annex Greenland, Europe Pushes NATO to Strengthen the Arctic

European countries believe that strengthening NATO's presence in the Arctic region can convince US President Donald Trump that Washington does not need to "own" Greenland for security reasons.

Previously on January 3, Trump told The Atlantic magazine that the United States "absolutely" needed Greenland, arguing that the island was "surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships".

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also urged Trump to stop the threat of annexation of Greenland, an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark.

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, in a closed meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels, Thursday, January 8, member countries agreed on the need to strengthen the alliance's posture in the Arctic region, three NATO diplomats told Politico.

The diplomats said European countries saw finding a compromise with Trump as the first and most desirable option.

In particular, the meeting discussed various options, including the use of intelligence capabilities to improve regional monitoring, increased Arctic defense spending, deployment of more military equipment, and the addition of military exercises in the surrounding area.

One source said the meeting attended by 32 representatives of the alliance took place in a "productive" and "constructive" atmosphere.

Trump has repeatedly said Greenland should be part of the United States, highlighting the island's strategic value for national security and the "free world" defense against China and Russia.

Greenland's former Prime Minister Mute Egede insists the island is not for sale.

On January 4, Katie Miller, wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, uploaded a picture of a map of Greenland colored with the American flag on the X platform with the caption "SOON".

Responding to the upload, Denmark's Ambassador to the US Jesper Moller Sorensen said Copenhagen expects respect for the kingdom's territorial integrity.

Greenland's current Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, called the image disrespectful.

Last December, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland.

Landry then reiterated the United States' goal to make the island part of its territory.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he was surprised and condemned Landry's statement.

Frederiksen and Nielsen warned the United States against any takeover, demanding respect for the integrity of the joint territory of Denmark and Greenland.

Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953. The world's largest island remains part of the Danish Kingdom after gaining autonomy in 2009, with the authority to govern itself and determine domestic policy.