President Donald Trump is telling NATO allies who are upset with his bid for Greenland that the U.S. will always support the alliance, whether they want it or not.
The commander in chief posted a long, winding statement to social media on Wednesday that reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the alliance — while also admonishing other members for previously failing to meet contribution quotas and ruminating on his loss of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
“Remember, for all of those big NATO fans, they were at 2% GDP, and most weren’t paying their bills, UNTIL I CAME ALONG,” Trump wrote Wednesday. “The USA was, foolishly, paying for them! I, respectfully, got them to 5% GDP, AND THEY PAY, immediately. Everyone said that couldn’t be done, but it could, because, beyond all else, they are all my friends.”
Trump claimed that without his leadership, Russia would have already conquered all of Ukraine and that China would have “zero fear” of Western powers.
“I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM. EVERYONE IS LUCKY THAT I REBUILT OUR MILITARY IN MY FIRST TERM, AND CONTINUE TO DO SO,” he added. “We will always be there for NATO, even if they won’t be there for us. The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
The rant comes amid escalating outrage from the Old Continent over U.S. machinations to claim the island of Greenland, which belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, but has been deemed by the White House as an invaluable geographic point for Arctic defense.
Trump and his team have floated a variety of schemes to get their prize. In a Monday briefing to lawmakers, Secretary of State Marco Rubio floated the idea of purchasing the island. The next day, Trump reminded reporters that the “U.S. military is always an option.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that “if the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops … including our NATO.”
European members of NATO are scurrying to prepare a counteraction to Trump’s rhetoric. Germany, France, and other allies are currently meeting to hash out a plan for deterrence.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French Inter radio on Wednesday that “whatever form intimidation takes, we want to take action with our European partners.”
Barrot claimed that in a conversation with European diplomats, Rubio reiterated that the plan is to purchase Greenland, not conquer it.
The co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), issued a rebuke of these machinations in a Tuesday statement.
“When Denmark and Greenland make it clear that Greenland is not for sale, the United States must honor its treaty obligations and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” the statement said. “Any suggestion that our nation would subject a fellow NATO ally to coercion or external pressure undermines the very principles of self-determination that our Alliance exists to defend.”
Among the most vocal proponents of a forced takeover of the island is homeland security adviser Stephen Miller, who said such a conquest would not require military force.
“The United States should have Greenland as part of the United States. There’s no need to even think or talk about this in the context … of a military operation,” Miller told CNN on Tuesday. “Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.”
STEPHEN MILLER GOADS PANICKED EUROPEAN ALLIES AND SAYS NO MILITARY WOULD DEFEND GREENLAND
Seven major European powers released a joint statement following Miller’s interview in which they affirmed, “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
The tone of the message was conciliatory, however, emphasizing that European members of NATO are “stepping up” to increase Arctic security infrastructure in the region.
