Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected renewed suggestions that Washington should control Greenland as NATO leaders assembled in Ankara amid wider disagreements involving the United States and its European allies.
Speaking to journalists before the alliance meeting on July 8, 2026, Frederiksen said Denmark’s position had remained consistent and that Greenland was not for sale. Her response followed remarks by President Donald Trump indicating that the territory should be under Washington’s control rather than Copenhagen’s.
The dispute formed part of a difficult backdrop to the summit. After reaching Ankara, Trump repeated his interest in obtaining Greenland and again criticised NATO members over their refusal to join the United States and Israel in fighting Iran. He said he was disappointed with the alliance, according to RFI.
At the same time, Trump praised summit host Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, referring to the rapport between them. He also repeated that Ankara might be permitted to purchase F-35 fighter aircraft from the United States. His positive comments about Turkey contrasted with his criticism of European allies.
Spending and Ukraine on the agenda
NATO entered the gathering seeking to emphasise increased European defence expenditure. Figures released by the alliance on the eve of the main session indicated that core European defence spending had grown 11 percent in 2026. The total was projected to reach $634 billion, compared with $571 billion one year earlier.
Allies had also announced arms contracts worth tens of billions on Tuesday as they sought to demonstrate progress toward higher military spending. NATO chief Mark Rutte said European members were strengthening their budgets and assuming greater responsibility for continental defence in response to Russia.
The war in Ukraine remained another central issue. Trump said he believed both parties wanted an agreement and was due to meet Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky on the summit sidelines. A US official said Trump had spoken with Russia’s Vladimir Putin before travelling to Turkey and intended to follow up after his discussion with Zelensky. RFI described negotiations as being at an impasse.
Europe and Canada were expected to promise continued military assistance for Ukraine worth 70 billion euros, or $80 billion, annually in both 2026 and 2027. Zelensky, addressing a NATO defence forum on Tuesday, called for additional support for Ukrainian air defences, citing shortages of essential interceptors. He also renewed his case for Ukraine to join NATO.
Trump’s summit schedule additionally included talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. That planned meeting followed a state visit to Syria by French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit was overshadowed by two bomb attacks in Damascus that wounded 18 people.
The Ankara gathering therefore brought together several separate pressure points: Frederiksen’s rejection of US control over Greenland, Trump’s objections to NATO policy, alliance efforts to showcase higher spending, and unresolved diplomacy surrounding Ukraine.
