Donald Trump suggested Thursday that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte could be “very instrumental” in helping him carry out his imperialist fantasy of wresting Greenland from Denmark.

During a meeting in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about the “potential annexation” of Greenland, the sparsely populated, mineral-rich island that the president has repeatedly insisted is very important for the U.S. to control.

“Well, I think it will happen. And, I’m just thinking, uh, I didn’t give it much thought before, but I’m sitting with a man that could be very instrumental,” Trump said.

“You know Mark, we need that for international security, not just security.”

Rutte replied diplomatically, saying that he should be left “outside” the discussions of the U.S. acquiring Greenland.

“I don’t want to drag NATO in that,” Rutte said. “But when it comes to the high north and the Arctic, you are totally right. The Chinese are using these routes. We know that the Russians are rearming.”

Trump continued to press that NATO might need to “get involved” on behalf of America’s national security.

“What do you think about that?” he pressed Rutte, quickly adding, “Don’t answer that.”

Trump then noted the U.S. already has “a couple bases” on Greenland (there is one U.S. military base on the island) and “quite a few soldiers there.”

“Maybe you’ll see more and more soldiers go there, I don’t know,” he mused.

Greenland’s parliamentary elections this week saw the victory of a center-right party that is set on a slower course toward independence and has already pushed back on Trump’s hopes of making Greenlanders American. The U.S. president has threatened to use tariffs to squeeze Denmark into relinquishing its claim on the world’s largest island.

Luckily, Trump has plenty of imperialist fantasies to keep him busy. His administration reportedly ordered the U.S. military to begin drawing up plans to take over the Panama Canal.

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Greenland’s prime minister summons party leaders after Trump doubles down on annexation

The outgoing prime minister of Greenland on Thursday said he would summon party leaders to strengthen their rejection of US President Donald Trump’s plan to annex the island territory, following his most recent comments on the issue.

In an Oval Office news briefing with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier Thursday, the president expressed confidence the US takeover of Greenland “will happen.”

Responding to a question from a journalist about his vision to annex the territory, Trump said, “I think it will happen.”

“We need that for international security. Not just security, international,” he continued.

Rutte did not comment directly on Trump’s statement, saying he did not “want to drag NATO” into the issue.

However, he did acknowledge the importance of securing the Arctic region. “We know things are changing there, and we have to be there.”

Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, hit back at Trump’s comments in a post on Facebook, saying, “The U.S. president has once again aired the thought of annexing us,” Reuters reported.

“Enough is enough,” he added.

Egede said he had requested to summon party leaders to intensify their rejection of Trump’s plan.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the island’s pro-business Demokraatit party – which won Greenland’s closely-watched parliamentary election Tuesday – also rejected the comments.

“Trump’s statement from the US is inappropriate and just shows once again that we must stand together in such situations,” Nielsen wrote on Facebook, according to Reuters.

Greenland’s election this week followed a race dominated both by Trump’s annexation threat and growing calls from residents for independence from Denmark.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to annex Greenland, home to about 57,000 people. All dominant parties in Greenland’s parliament have said they do not want the territory to become part of the United States.

Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, when the island achieved greater powers of self-governance. Then, in 2009, it gained more powers pertaining to minerals, policing and courts of law. But Denmark still controls security, defense, foreign and monetary policy. Greenland also benefits from Denmark’s European Union and NATO memberships.

Trump’s idea to annex the territory threw an international spotlight onto the territory’s election and has raised questions about its security as the United States, Russia and China vie for influence in the Arctic.

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Trump remains optimistic about odds of acquiring Greenland: 'I think it'll happen'

President Donald Trump remains optimistic that the U.S. will acquire Greenland, despite the fact Greenland has said it’s not interested in becoming part of the U.S.

Trump’s remarks coincide with a visit from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who said he didn’t want to "drag NATO" into negotiations about the U.S. acquiring the Danish territory.

"I think it'll happen," Trump told reporters Thursday. "And I'm just thinking, I didn't give it much thought before, but I'm sitting with a man that could be very instrumental. You know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security, international."

Rutte said he didn’t want to weigh in on the matter. However, he agreed with Trump that the Chinese and Russians were active in shipping routes near Greenland and stressed that Arctic countries must work with the U.S. to preserve security in the region.

"But when it comes to the High North and the Arctic, you are totally right," Rutte said. "The Chinese are now using these routes."

Trump has discussed acquiring Greenland, Canada and Panama for months – and regularly has referred to Canada as the 51st state. Additionally, Trump asserted in a joint address to Congress March 4 that the U.S. would acquire Greenland for national and international security.

"And I also have a message tonight for the incredible people of Greenland," Trump said. "We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America."

"One way or the other, we’re going to get it," Trump said. "We will keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to new heights."

Greenland is rich in natural resources, including oil and natural gas, and both Russia and China have bolstered their presence in the region in recent years. For example, the U.S. Navy released a "Blue Arctic" strategy in 2021 cautioning that Russia was reopening old bases in the region, and urged the sea service to operate more aggressively there as a result.

Trump has discussed the possibility of expanding American territory for months and said in a post in December 2024 on Truth Social that "the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."

Meanwhile, leaders from Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark, pushed back on Trump’s remarks to members of Congress.

"We do not want to be Americans, nor Danes, we are Kalaallit (Greenlanders)," Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede said in a March 5 post translated by Reuters. "The Americans and their leader must understand that."

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