As the debate over NATO’s role and U.S. military presence in Greenland heats up, former President Donald Trump’s recent claims have sparked widespread outrage. Trump suggested that the U.S. had “given Greenland back to Denmark” after World War II. This statement is misleading. The U.S. never owned Greenland. Instead, it established military bases there under a 1941 agreement with Denmark due to the Nazi invasion of Denmark. The military presence on the island continues today, though in a reduced capacity.
Additionally, Trump has claimed that the U.S. paid “100% of NATO” before his presidency. This is inaccurate, as NATO records indicate that the U.S. contributed about 16% of the NATO budget in 2025. Most NATO members met the expected 2% GDP contribution that year. Trump also claimed the U.S. has received nothing from NATO, ignoring the fact that NATO invoked Article 5—collective defense—after the September 11 attacks.
Concerns have also been raised about Denmark’s military spending. Denmark pledged around $200 million in 2019 to strengthen its military presence in Greenland but fell short of that target by 2024. The Danish Defense Minister admitted to years of underinvestment in defense. Recently, Denmark announced a more significant military spending commitment of about $4 billion for Greenland in October 2024. The Norwegian Nobel Committee operates independently from the government, a principle that underscores the complexities of international agreements.
Trump’s negotiations included threats of tariffs against European nations while pushing for the acquisition of Greenland. He stated that countries could either agree to the deal or face consequences. After a NATO meeting, Trump declared that tariffs would not be imposed and that a future deal regarding Greenland had been discussed.
Internationally, many European officials have dismissed Trump’s claims as false and misleading. They have urged the public to recognize the inaccuracies in his statements. The debate continues as officials from both sides of the Atlantic respond to Trump’s remarks and their implications for NATO and Greenland.
