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U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States "needs" Greenland and called the Arctic island a key to NATO security—remarks likely to reignite debate over sovereignty and alliance strategy.

This was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.

What he said and when

Speaking by phone with The Atlantic on January 4, 2026, Trump stated, “We really need Greenland, no question.” He noted the island is part of NATO ally Denmark and referenced the presence of Russian and Chinese ships in waters around Greenland as a security concern.

Signals and reactions

The comments coincided with a social media hint from Katie Miller, the wife of White House official Stephen Miller, who posted a Greenland map in U.S. flag colors labeled “Soon” on X (formerly Twitter).

Responding publicly, Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen, affirmed Copenhagen’s alliance with Washington while emphasizing that the Kingdom of Denmark expects full respect for its territorial integrity.

Previous steps and proposals

Trump has pushed the issue before. In December 2024, he wrote on Truth Social that possessing and controlling Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for U.S. national security. In 2025, Republicans introduced a bill in Congress aimed at purchasing the island.

That December, Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy on Greenland. Landry said the role would “serve the cause of Greenland joining the United States.”

Why it matters

Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark and a strategically significant NATO territory. With military and naval activity increasing across the Arctic, moves involving the island could reshape the balance among the United States, European partners, and other powers. Trump’s latest remarks are set to intensify the debate.