Donald Trump has said a “deal on Greenland” would play a key role in any decision about the numbers of US troops in Europe.
The US president was speaking on board the new Air Force One after a quick stop at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk to change planes on the way back to Washington from the Nato summit in Turkey.
Asked about plans for troops stationed in Europe, Mr Trump said: “I haven’t made that final determination. A lot’s going to depend on Greenland.”
He has previously suggested Greenland, which is part of Denmark, should come under US control and told reporters “a very good deal on Greenland” would play a key role in any decision on troops.
He has made conflicting comments on the subject, suggesting 5,000 troops would be sent to Poland weeks after saying a similar number would be removed from Europe.
Mr Trump struck a conciliatory tone at the end of the Nato summit in Ankara, saying fellow alliance members were “answering the call” on military funding.
He urged Britain and other allies to speed up planned rises in defence spending to meet a Nato target “as quickly as possible”.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced domestic criticism for failing to set out a clear path for reaching the goal in last week’s Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
On progress being made by countries to reaching the 5% target, Mr Trump said: “Some have truly answered the call, and others are making big changes, and will be answering the call. I think I can say, in all cases, they’re going to be answering the call.
“I urge all nations to accelerate their plans to get the benchmark as quickly as possible.”
Answering questions on Air Force One, Mr Trump praised Spain having earlier criticised a refusal to commit spending of 5% of gross domestic product.
Spain “came all the way back today” and was “very generous”, Mr Trump said, adding the country “honoured a request of lots of payment”.
“The meeting today settled a lot of things,” said the president, rejecting suggestions that he would not attend further Nato summits.
Suggestions that Mr Trump might confront Sir Keir about the absence of a clear path to reaching the target in last week’s Dip did not materialise, according to the Prime Minister.
“I had no discussion with Donald Trump in which he made any issue with me in relation to the defence spending for the United Kingdom,” he said.
He insisted he had “always got on” with the US president, even after facing repeated criticism from him.
The Prime Minister told reporters: “At the end, President Trump summed up and said that he was very pleased and welcomed the spirit of the meeting and the unity of the meeting.
“And therefore, in terms of what’s the outcome here, and answering that question, ‘Is Nato stronger and more united coming out this summit?, then the answer is yes to that.”
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