US President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on NATO nations in a Truth Social post this week as tensions over his renewed push for control of Greenland continued to simmer. Trump questioned the value of the alliance, suggested some member states have failed to contribute fairly, and raised doubts about whether NATO would defend the United States if needed — comments that have alarmed European leaders.
In his post, Trump boasted that he had “single-handedly ended 8 wars” and lamented that Norway did not award him the Nobel Peace Prize. He also reiterated a familiar claim that without US leadership, Russia would “have all of Ukraine right now.” Trump added, “We will always be there for NATO, even if they won’t be there for us,” underscoring his long-standing criticism that many alliance members do not meet defence spending obligations.
Trump highlighted a recent agreement by NATO members to raise their defence spending target to 5% of GDP by 2035, noting this replaces the previous 2% target set in 2014 — and asserting that the US had been “foolishly paying for them.” These comments reflect longstanding grievances from Trump and other US officials that European allies have underinvested in their militaries.
Greenland Tension and NATO Fallout
Trump’s comments come amid a renewed and controversial focus on Greenland — a semiautonomous Danish territory and NATO member state — which he claims is vital for US national security due to its strategic Arctic location. The White House has described acquiring Greenland as a national security priority, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the US military is “always an option” for pursuing that objective.
Denmark has firmly rejected these overtures. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any US military action against a NATO ally would mean the end of the alliance itself, telling Danish television that “if the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops — that includes NATO.”
Her comments were echoed by European leaders, who issued joint statements backing Denmark and emphasising that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people and Denmark, not through external pressure. They underscored the importance of upholding sovereignty, territorial integrity and the UN Charter, saying the Arctic must be secured collectively with NATO’s cooperation rather than through unilateral moves by any single member.
Greenland’s own government, led by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has also pushed back against Trump’s rhetoric, calling for respectful dialogue and insisting the island is not for sale or conquest.
Broader NATO Implications
Analysts and allies warn that repeated threats against a fellow NATO member risk undermining trust within the alliance. Article 5 of the NATO treaty — the commitment that an attack on one member is an attack on all — is meant to deter external threats, but the notion of a key power targeting a partner inside the alliance is widely viewed as an existential crisis for the bloc.
While Trump has framed his Greenland push as part of a broader strategy to counter Russia and China in the Arctic, Danish officials and security experts argue there is no need for a territorial takeover, and that existing defence cooperation already allows the US significant access to Greenland’s facilities.
European leaders, including in France, Germany and the UK, have rallied behind Denmark’s position, condemning any suggestion of forcible annexation and reinforcing support for NATO’s collective defence principles.