U.S. President Donald Trump holding a press conference aboard Air Force One [AFP Yonhap News] 

U.S. President Donald Trump is once again unsettling Europe by reiterating his obsession with the Danish territory of Greenland, following the conclusion of the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye.

According to the dpa news agency and others, when asked by reporters about plans for additional troop withdrawals from Europe while aboard Air Force One on his return flight on the 9th (local time) after the NATO summit, President Trump stated, "I have not made a final decision yet. A lot depends on Greenland."

President Trump added, "A lot depends on whether we can reach a very good agreement regarding Greenland," and remarked, "Perhaps that could happen."

The Trump administration, which has been pressuring European allies to reduce their reliance on the U.S. for the defense of the continent and to contribute more themselves, recently announced plans to decide on the reduction of U.S. forces in Europe after a six-month review period.

The United States currently has approximately 80,000 troops stationed in Europe, including in Germany, Poland, Italy, Romania, and the Baltic states.

Previously, immediately after arriving in Ankara on the 7th, President Trump reignited his ambition for annexing Greenland, telling reporters that it was "a reason for harming the relationship between (the U.S.) and NATO," and adding that "Greenland is a place that should be controlled by the United States, not Denmark."

On the final day of the summit, the 8th, President Trump further demonstrated that his interest had not cooled, telling reporters, "Greenland is very important to the U.S. but not to Denmark. I am not satisfied with what NATO has done regarding the Greenland issue."

 Near Ilulissat, Greenland [AP Yonhap News file photo] 

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen immediately hit back, reiterating that "Greenland is not for sale" and calling for respect for the sovereignty of their allies.

The summit concluded without the feared discord, as President Trump made friendly remarks supporting the unity of the transatlantic alliance while refraining from mentioning the Greenland issue in the official setting where leaders from 32 NATO nations were gathered.

However, the European media outlet Euronews noted that Europe cannot hide its anxiety that the conflict over Greenland, which was thought to have subsided, might be reignited. In January, President Trump shocked Denmark and all European allies by expressing his intent to annex Greenland—even by force if necessary—claiming it was essential for U.S. security.

After the transatlantic conflict escalated sharply due to strong backlash from Europe, President Trump stepped back, stating he would resolve the matter through diplomacy, and tripartite negotiations between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland have been underway since.

While the Greenland issue had quickly disappeared from official agendas as international attention shifted to the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine that began in February, President Trump’s recent remarks clearly demonstrate that the embers of the conflict have not yet been extinguished.

Based on a bilateral defense agreement signed with the U.S. in 1951, Denmark and Greenland have been engaged in tripartite discussions with the U.S. since January to find a solution regarding Greenland, but no tangible results have emerged to date.

In relation to this, the New York Times (NYT) reported last May that the U.S. is seeking to secure a clause guaranteeing the permanent stationing of U.S. troops in Greenland and a veto over new investments in an effort to block the influence of Russia and China. These demands are viewed as a direct challenge to the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland.

Euronews reported that while Denmark and Greenland hope for success in diplomatic negotiations, they remain concerned that the Trump administration may still pursue the annexation of Greenland through other means, even if it does not use military force. They are reportedly conveying to various European countries that they should not take the situation lightly.