Trump Revives Greenland Purchase Push, Cites Rare Earths and NATO Tensions

07/12/2026 / By Garrison Vance

President Donald Trump renewed his push for the United States to acquire Greenland during the NATO summit in The Hague on July 8, 2026, according to a report by Mining.com. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump criticized NATO allies for their lack of support on both Greenland and Iran, and argued that the United States should never have returned control of the Arctic territory to Denmark after World War II. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and defended Danish sovereignty, according to the same report.

Trump’s Remarks at NATO Summit

According to the Mining.com report, Trump said, “We took Greenland and then, stupidly, we gave it back. We shouldn’t have given it back to them, because we’re the ones that need it. We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States.” He expressed unhappiness with NATO members over their reluctance to support U.S. efforts against Iran, which he described as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. The U.S. special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, told Breitbart on July 1 that Trump confirmed he was still very interested in acquiring the territory [1].

Trump has not ruled out using military force to annex Greenland, according to previous statements cited in a report by NaturalNews.com [2]. The White House earlier this year stated that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority and that military action remained an option, according to a report by The Epoch Times [3]. The president’s renewed campaign has revived concerns among NATO allies that the alliance could be fractured over the dispute, according to a report by Just the News [4].

Denmark’s Response

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking to reporters in The Hague after Trump’s comments, reaffirmed that Greenland is not for sale. “Our position is clear as it has been all through. Greenland is, of course, not for sale,” she said, according to the Mining.com report. She added that all allies should respect the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination and Danish territorial integrity.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has also firmly rejected U.S. overtures, declaring Greenland’s allegiance to Denmark, NATO and the European Union, according to a report by NaturalNews.com [5]. Nielsen previously urged Greenland’s residents to stockpile food and prepare for potential disruptions, warning that conflict cannot be ruled out [6]. Denmark has deployed more than 100 combat troops to Greenland in response to Trump’s threats, according to a report by NaturalNews.com [7].

Strategic and Mineral Context

Greenland’s importance has grown due to intensifying military competition in the Arctic and access to vast untapped mineral deposits, including rare earth elements. The Pentagon may only have a two-month supply of rare earths left, making the U.S. military vulnerable to Chinese controls, according to a report by NaturalNews.com [8]. China accounted for 71% of U.S. rare earth imports from 2021 to 2024, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report cited in the same article. Russia, meanwhile, already operates 42 icebreakers, including eight nuclear-powered vessels, while the U.S. Coast Guard recently awarded contracts for six new icebreakers, with the first not expected until 2028 [9].

The United States retains military rights on Greenland under a long-standing defense agreement with Denmark and operates strategic facilities there, according to the Mining.com report. During World War II, the United States built several airbases on Greenland, and by the war’s end Greenlanders had seen significant modernization, according to an essay in “The best American science and nature writing 2017” [10]. Trump has warned that China is maneuvering for control of Greenland’s strategic minerals, according to a report by YourNews citing The Washington Post [11].

Conclusion

The dispute between the United States and NATO allies over Greenland highlights ongoing tensions regarding Arctic security and resource access. Trump announced in late January that he and NATO Secretary General Rutte had agreed to a framework for future discussions on the territory, and representatives from the United States, Denmark and Greenland have since been meeting to discuss defense and economic cooperation, according to the Mining.com report. No resolution has been reached, and the issue remains a point of contention within the alliance.

References

The Epoch Times. “Trump Still Wants US to Acquire Greenland, Special Envoy Says.” July 3, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. “Trump’s Greenland gambit: A strategic play or NATO’s breaking point?” January 12, 2026.
The Epoch Times. “US Discusses Ways To Acquire Greenland; Military Use On Table.” January 7, 2026.
Just the News. “NATO long warned of Russian, Chinese threats to Greenland, now rejects Trump’s ownership solution.” January 15, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. “Greenland rejects US annexation push as Trump warns of big problem for PM.” January 15, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. “Greenland’s PM urges citizens to PREPARE for possible US invasion.” January 23, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. “Denmark deploys combat troops to Greenland as Trump pushes for control.” January 21, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. “Pentagon may only have two-month supply of rare earths left, making U.S. military vulnerable to Chinese controls.” March 12, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. “U.S. seeks to compete with Russia in the Arctic, invests in six Coast Guard Icebreakers.” July 3, 2026.
“The best American science and nature writing 2017.” Excerpt on Greenland during WWII.
YourNews.com. “Trump Warns China Is Maneuvering for Control of Greenland’s Strategic Minerals.” January 24, 2026.