Trump Lashes Out at Spain and Greenland During NATO Summit in Ankara

US President Donald Trump voiced his grievances while attending a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, threatening to cease trade with Spain and revisiting his desire to take control of Greenland. Trump stated he was ‘very upset with NATO’ due to its stance on Greenland and the lack of support from allies in confronting Iran, whom he labelled the ‘number one sponsor of terrorism’. His remarks followed a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte ahead of the summit’s main session.

Trump specifically criticised Spain, calling it a ‘very bad partner in NATO’ and declaring he no longer wished to conduct any trade with the country. He instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was accompanying him, to ‘stop it’, asserting that Spain does not participate or pay its share.

The US President also revived his ambition to acquire Greenland, a territory of NATO member Denmark, describing it as ‘a big subject for us’ and ‘very important for the United States, but not important for Denmark’. He argued the island was needed for the protection of the world. Secretary General Rutte confirmed that the US and Denmark would continue talks regarding an increased American presence in the Arctic, although Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has previously insisted Greenland is ‘not for sale’. Trump further complained that the US has been treated unfairly by shouldering a disproportionate share of NATO’s costs to protect Europe from Russia.