‘We’re Talking To NATO’: Trump Says Discussions On Greenland Underway With Bloc

Last Updated:January 17, 2026, 02:59 IST

European nations who are members of NATO have in recent days shown their support for Denmark and Greenland over Trump's escalating threats, including by sending troops there.

Trump says the US is engaging NATO on Greenland, calling the territory vital to national security and raising the possibility of tariffs against countries that oppose Washington’s position. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump on Friday said Greenland is critical to US national security and confirmed that Washington is in talks with NATO over the strategically located territory.

“NATO has been dealing with us on Greenland. We need Greenland for national security very badly," Trump told reporters.

“If we don’t have it, we have a big hole in national security, especially when it comes to what we’re doing in terms of the Golden Dome and all of the other things," he said.

Trump did not spell out the military or security initiatives he was referring to but said the US was actively engaging the alliance on the issue. “We’re talking to NATO," he added.

Earlier in the day, Trump said he was considering using tariffs as leverage against countries that oppose US interests linked to Greenland. “I may do that for Greenland, too," he said, referring to the possibility of imposing trade penalties.

Trump recalled a past exchange with Emmanuel Macron, saying he had previously threatened a sweeping 25 percent tariff to push France to raise drug prices. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security," he told an event at the White House.

Last week, Trump said the United States must “acquire" Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence over the autonomous territory, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Both Greenland and Denmark have rejected any suggestion of selling the island, reaffirming Danish sovereignty.

Senior Danish officials met JD Vance and Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the issue. After the meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the talks were “frank and constructive" but acknowledged that “fundamental disagreements" remain.

But the United States, Denmark and Greenland had agreed to set up a working group to continue talks every two to three weeks, the White House said on Thursday.

Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have announced the deployment of small numbers of military personnel to prepare for future exercises in the Arctic.

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