Trump Says US Control Of Greenland Is ‘Vital’ For Golden Dome Missile Defence Plan

Last Updated:January 14, 2026, 18:40 IST

Donald Trump’s comments came as senior Danish and Greenlandic diplomats were scheduled to visit the White House for talks on Greenland.

US President Donald Trump at the White House. (Image Credit: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump said that United States control of Greenland is “vital" for his proposed Golden Dome air and missile defence system, sharpening his rhetoric on the strategic Arctic island just ahead of high-level talks with Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington.

“The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building," Donald Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, reiterating his long-standing position that the US should take control of the territory from ally Denmark.

In the same post, Donald Trump claimed that US control of Greenland would strengthen the Western military alliance.

“NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES. Anything less than that is unacceptable," he said.

Donald Trump’s comments came as senior Danish and Greenlandic diplomats were scheduled to visit the White House for talks on Greenland with US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen sought to play down tensions, saying Denmark was increasing its military presence in Greenland and was in discussions with allies on boosting NATO’s role in the Arctic. He said Copenhagen was committed to addressing security concerns through the alliance framework rather than any transfer of sovereignty.

Donald Trump, however, said NATO itself “should be leading the way" in developing the multi-layer missile defence system, arguing that control of Greenland was essential to counter rivals in the Arctic.

“IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!" he wrote in the post.

The US President has repeatedly floated the idea of taking over the vast, sparsely populated island, which sits at a strategic crossroads between North America and Europe. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have consistently rejected the idea of US control.

News world Trump Says US Control Of Greenland Is ‘Vital’ For Golden Dome Missile Defence Plan

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