Trump revives Greenland bid as tensions with allies resurface

US President Donald Trump renewed his push for the United States to acquire Greenland on Tuesday, reviving a long-running dispute with European allies. He also criticized fellow NATO members over their response to recent US military actions in Iran.

Upon arriving at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said he was "very disappointed" with NATO allies, accusing the alliance of failing to support Washington following the US military operation against Iran.

Trump also criticized Europe's immigration and energy policies, adding to tensions with some NATO allies.

"I was very disappointed with NATO. We weren't treated well because we did something in Iran. We don't need anybody's help, but before I asked they said they wouldn't be there," Trump told reporters.

Trump renewed his argument that the US needs to acquire Greenland for national security. However, the push for control of Greenland is "what hurt my relationship with NATO", he added.

Greenland and Denmark both quickly pushed back on the remarks on Tuesday.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said later in Turkey that there are no plans to discuss Greenland while in Ankara.

"It is a well-known position of the US that it wants to own and take over Greenland. I hope that it is equally well known everywhere that this is not going to happen," Frederiksen said, according to Reuters.

Greenlandic Foreign Minister Mute Egede pushed back and wrote in a post that Greenland's future is up to the people.

"That's how it has always been. And that's how it always will be," he said.

Trump has sought to acquire Greenland since his first term, arguing that the Arctic island has a strategic location. After returning to office, he intensified the effort and refused to rule out the use of military force. He later softened his stance at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January.

mingmeili@chinadailyusa.com