US President Donald Trump spoke to reporters after his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the NATO summit in Ankara. Trump made controversial remarks about the control of Greenland.
Trump said, 'This place should be controlled by the US, not Denmark.'
Trump, arguing that the issue of Greenland's control had damaged his relations with NATO, said: 'This is what damaged my relationship with NATO, because Greenland doesn't help Denmark. Denmark doesn't spend money to really help Greenland, but this place is important for the US and it's surrounded by Chinese and Russian ships, and that won't be allowed.'
Trump also alluded to allies' defense spending, saying, 'We are spending all this money to help them against Russia.'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had stated in June that talks with Denmark and Greenland were continuing monthly.