Donald Trump has suggested America could pull all its troops out of Europe as he again berated Nato allies over their opposition to his ambition to annex Greenland arguing it should be “controlled by the United States”.
The president renewed his criticism and claim to the semi-autonomous Danish territory at a crucial summit of the military alliance in Turkey.
Keir Starmer has previously joined with other European leaders to rally behind Denmark over Greenland.
Responding to a question on the dispute at the Ankara summit, Trump said: “That’s what hurt my relationship with Nato, because Greenland doesn’t help Denmark.
“Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States, and it’s surrounded by China ships and Russian ships, and that’s not going to happen.”
He argued that the Arctic island “should be controlled by the United States”.
Trump added: “And when they wouldn’t go along with it, and with all the money we spend to help them with Russia, and we don’t have to spend any money, we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, because, as you probably noticed, Europe’s a very different place than it was 20 years ago, lot different, much different, much different, and they better be careful with immigration and energy.
“If they’re not careful with those two things, you’re not going to have a Europe anymore.”
UK chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “The future of Greenland is up to the people of Greenland and of Denmark, and not up to the US president.
“I’ve been very clear about that ever since it was first suggested.”
