Trump Says 'NATO Wasn't There When Needed...It Won't Be There Next Time Either,' Revives Talk of Greenland

According to Financial News, after meeting North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on the afternoon of the 8th local time, U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to complain about NATO, writing, "When we needed them, NATO was not there, and when we need them again, they will not be there."
Appearing on Cable News Network (CNN) after the talks, Secretary General Rutte said, "I fully understand President Trump's disappointment," but argued that "the majority of European countries have cooperated with the United States," adding that he also supports "a war with Iran."
In the same social media post, President Trump also wrote, "Remember that big, badly run piece of ice, Greenland." The likelihood may be low, but if the United States were to withdraw from NATO over its grievances, there would be no mechanism left to restrain any ambition to seize Greenland by force, which makes his remark particularly troubling.
President Trump has previously made no secret of his strong desire for the United States to annex Greenland. NATO allies fiercely opposed the idea, but he at one point suggested he would not rule out military action to secure Greenland and even threatened allies with tariffs.
After meeting Secretary General Rutte in Davos, Switzerland, this past January, he said they had "created a framework for a future agreement on Greenland and effectively the entire Arctic region." He then dropped the option of using force and withdrew his tariff threats. At the same time, however, he warned NATO member states in Europe that "they have a choice," saying, "If they answer yes, we will be deeply grateful, but if they answer no, we will remember."
whywani@fnnews.com Hong Chae-wan Reporter