NATO Silent as Trump Eyes Greenland Purchase

NATO has not publicly defended a member's territory after former U.S. President Donald Trump discussed buying Greenland. This silence worries some European allies. Trump recently repeated his interest in purchasing the Arctic island. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a founding NATO member. The military alliance's founding treaty includes a collective defense pledge. It also commits members to respect each other's territorial integrity. NATO has issued no statement supporting Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland since Trump's comments. This breaks from its usual practice of quickly affirming member states' borders. Analysts say the silence highlights the alliance's political tension. Some European members fear that U.S. commitment to NATO may weaken if Trump wins the next election. Denmark has consistently rejected the idea of selling Greenland. The island holds strategic importance in the Arctic and contains rare minerals.