Donald Trump discussing leaving NATO, posts cryptic Greenland message while criticising support for US
US President Donald Trump has continued a tirade of intense social media posts, now, turning his attention back to Greenland.
US President Donald Trump has continued a tirade of intense social media posts, now turning his attention back to Greenland.
Mr Trump is reportedly considering leaving NATO, something that isn’t exactly new.
However, after a meeting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, Mr Trump shot out a furious statement online, drawing Greenland back into the conversations after weeks of Iran focus.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”
Before the meeting, Mr Trump’s inner circle had started to heap fresh criticism on NATO.
“It’s quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks when it’s the American people who have been funding their defence,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday before the meeting.
She revealed that Mr Trump was planning “a very frank and candid conversation” with Mr Rutte in the White House over the future of NATO.
Mr Trump has been publicly furious over the lack of support the US has received in the US-Iran war. He has been vocally supportive, and thankful, of the support from Israel, a much larger, and local, player in the conflict.
Mr Trump has called out NATO, Japan, Australia and other countries for not playing a bigger role in his Operation Epic Fury.
Mr Trump’s mention of Greenland follows more criticism of NATO week this week.
“NATO is a paper tiger,” Mr Trump said ahead of Mr Rutte’s trip to the White House.
“It all began with, if you want to know the truth, Greenland,” Mr Trump added.
“We want Greenland. They don’t want to give it to us and I said ‘bye bye’.”
NATO could survive without the US as a strategic partner, however, it would drastically degrade its influence and capabilities.
With the US involved, NATO is strengthened by thousands of troops and modern military might to deter attacks or step in if a NATO country is attacked.
If NATO wants the US to stay, it may be forced to control the request to hand over Greenland, something Mr Trump says is vital for global security.
However, handing the country over isn’t something NATO can do. The decision, in principle, is up to Denmark and the people of Greenland.
If Mr Trump wants Greenland, as experts have suggested, he would need to take it. It’s a stance Mr Trump is open to, at least through his commentary.
Whether Mr Trump would actually launch an invasion and take Greenland remains unclear.
