United States President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that Greenland should be under the control of the United States and not Denmark, as NATO leaders gathered for a summit in Turkey.
"Greenland should be under the control of the United States, not Denmark," Trump told reporters during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump stated that the dispute over Greenland has negatively affected his relationship with NATO.
"This is what damaged my relationship with NATO, because Greenland does not bring any benefit to Denmark. Denmark does not spend money to really help Greenland, but it is a very important part for the United States. There are Chinese and Russian ships around it, and this will not happen again," he said.
Trump added that allies did not support this approach, despite, according to him, the significant funds the US spends to support them in the face of Russia.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in June that talks with Denmark and Greenland are continuing monthly.
Trump's claims that the US should take or exercise control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, previously caused tensions between Washington and Copenhagen, both founding members of NATO, as well as wider concern in Europe. However, the issue has now moved to the diplomatic path.