President Trump's ongoing campaign to acquire Greenland has crossed a dangerous line, eroding the foundational trust that underpins the NATO alliance, according to a former top U.S. envoy to the organization. Nicholas Burns, who served as ambassador to NATO during the September 11, 2001 attacks, delivered a stark warning on Wednesday, arguing that Trump's aggressive push is fracturing the bond that has held allies together for decades.
In an interview with CNN, Burns recalled how NATO allies swiftly rallied to America's side after 9/11—the only time the alliance's Article 5 mutual defense clause has been invoked. "The allies rushed to our defense. Within 24 hours, they had pledged to defend us," he said. But now, he argued, Trump's combative rhetoric and demands are unraveling that solidarity. "I think what he's done on Greenland, he's broken the bond of trust that is at the heart of the NATO alliance," Burns added.
Trump doubled down on his Greenland ambitions while attending the NATO summit in Turkey, stating alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that "Greenland... that should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark." The remarks came as part of a broader pattern of tension between the U.S. and its European allies, detailed in a report on key flashpoints at the summit.
Burns acknowledged that Trump deserves some credit for pushing NATO members to boost defense spending. "Most of these allies were spending below 2% of their gross domestic product on defense," he noted. "They've all committed to spend 3.5 percent, an additional 1.5 percent on military infrastructure. This is a major achievement." However, Burns lamented that Trump has failed to capitalize on that success. "He won't take the win," the former envoy said.
The former ambassador, who also served as U.S. envoy to China under President Biden, stressed that the threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin extends well beyond Europe's land borders. He dismissed Trump's suggestion that the Atlantic Ocean provides a buffer against Moscow. "So when the president says somehow the Atlantic Ocean is going to protect us in the 21st century from Russia, he's just badly mistaken," Burns told CNN. "He's living in some other century, but not the century we're living in."
The Greenland controversy adds to a growing list of strains within NATO, including disputes over trade and military commitments. In a related development, Trump demanded a total trade cutoff with Spain during the same summit, further rattling allies.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back forcefully against Trump's renewed overtures, vowing to defend the semi-autonomous Arctic territory. "We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory," she told reporters ahead of the summit in Ankara. The standoff underscores the fragility of alliance unity at a time when Russia's war in Ukraine continues to demand a coordinated response.
Burns's critique echoes broader concerns among former officials and analysts who worry that Trump's transactional approach to diplomacy is undermining long-standing partnerships. Trump's revived Greenland purchase push has been met with skepticism both in Copenhagen and in Washington, where lawmakers have questioned the feasibility and wisdom of such a move.
