Trump says US control of Greenland vital for Golden Dome missile defence

United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared that American control of Greenland is “vital” to U.S. national security and to the success of his proposed Golden Dome air and missile defence system, escalating rhetoric that has already strained relations with key allies.

In a social media post, Trump said the Arctic island’s strategic location made it indispensable to Washington’s defence architecture. “The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building,” he wrote.

He further argued that NATO would be strengthened by U.S. control of Greenland, insisting that “anything less than that is unacceptable,” and warning that rivals such as Russia and China could otherwise gain the upper hand.

Trump’s comments came ahead of scheduled talks at the White House involving senior Danish and Greenlandic officials, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where security issues surrounding Greenland were expected to dominate discussions.

Earlier in the day, Denmark sought to reassure Washington over Arctic security concerns. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Copenhagen was increasing its military presence in Greenland and was in discussions with allies on expanding NATO’s footprint in the region.

Trump also said NATO should take the lead in developing the proposed multi-layer missile defence system, stressing that failure to do so would leave room for geopolitical rivals to act.

The U.S. president has repeatedly raised the prospect of taking control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, citing its strategic importance in the Arctic. His latest remarks have renewed concerns among allies over U.S. intentions and the future balance of power in the region.