Trump Says U.S. May Have to Choose Between NATO Alliance and Control of Greenland

Former president questions NATO’s relevance without U.S. leadership and downplays the role of international law in military decisions

By: Haitian Prime News|January 9, 2026|Washington, D.C.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States could face a strategic decision between maintaining its leadership role within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and pursuing control over Greenland, comments that have sparked renewed debate among allies and foreign policy observers.

In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said it “may be a choice” between NATO and Greenland, asserting that the alliance would be “toothless” without Washington’s leadership. The remarks revive his long-standing interest in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that holds growing strategic importance due to its Arctic location, military positioning, and natural resources.

During the interview, Trump also claimed that his own sense of morality represents the primary limitation on his global military authority, minimizing the influence of international law and multilateral frameworks on U.S. actions. The statement reflects a broader skepticism he has expressed toward international institutions and legal constraints on American power.

NATO officials and European leaders have previously emphasized that the alliance’s strength rests on collective defense and shared commitments, particularly under Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. Denmark, a founding NATO member, has consistently rejected any proposal involving the transfer of sovereignty over Greenland, stating that the territory’s future is determined by its population.

Analysts note that questioning NATO’s value could have implications for transatlantic security at a time of heightened tensions involving Russia and increased strategic competition in the Arctic region, where China has also expanded its presence.

The comments arrive amid broader discussions in the United States over alliance obligations, global leadership, and the balance between unilateral decision-making and adherence to international norms.

Sources:

The New York Times

Euronews

NATO official statements Danish government communications