WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has publicly expressed skepticism about NATO’s willingness to defend the United States if needed, creating fresh uncertainty about the future of the transatlantic alliance. The remarks came amid escalating tensions with Denmark over potential U.S. interests in acquiring Greenland.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform Wednesday, Trump declared, “We will always be there for NATO, even if they won’t be there for us.” This questioning of NATO’s mutual defense principles represents the latest chapter in Trump’s complicated relationship with the military alliance he has frequently criticized.
The comments follow Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s warning earlier this week that any U.S. military action against Greenland could effectively terminate the NATO alliance that has existed since the end of World War II. Denmark, as both a NATO and European Union member, finds itself at the center of this geopolitical tension.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to Xinhua on Tuesday that the administration is evaluating “a range of options” regarding Greenland, including potential “utilization of the U.S. military.” This acknowledgment has intensified diplomatic concerns about U.S. territorial ambitions and their impact on international alliances.
The situation highlights ongoing questions about America’s commitment to collective security arrangements and raises fresh concerns among European allies about the durability of NATO amid changing U.S. foreign policy priorities.