U.S. May Exit NATO Over Greenland Even if a Law Bans It

After recent talks between Greenland’s and Denmark’s foreign ministers and U.S. officials yielded no results, President Donald Trump was questioned about what his next steps might be.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump — who continues to ramp up pressure on Greenland in his desire to annex the territory — refused to rule out the option of leaving NATO, Callum Sutherland reported for Time.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 sought to place a firm legal brake on any future attempt to withdraw the United States from NATO by prohibiting a president from doing so without either a two-thirds Senate supermajority or an act of Congress. (Photo: NATO Facebook)

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said there remains a “fundamental disagreement” between Denmark and the U.S. about Greenland’s future. In a display of strength, Denmark announced an expansion of its military presence on and around the island.

Several European NATO allies followed suit, with Sweden and Germany committing to send military personnel to the territory.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 sought to place a firm legal brake on any future attempt to withdraw the United States from NATO by prohibiting a president from doing so without either a two-thirds Senate supermajority or an act of Congress, according to Ilaria Di Gioia, a senior lecturer in American law at Birmingham City University.

However, Trump has shown little regard for legal constraints and has indicated he prefers to govern through executive orders.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Greenland’s defense is a “common concern” for all NATO members. Echoing that sentiment, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters that Denmark is planning to establish a “larger and more permanent” NATO presence to ensure the island’s security.

Trump has previously floated the idea of leaving NATO over other disputes.

As he refuses to rule out that possibility again, concerns are mounting over the U.S. relationship with the alliance, which hosts dozens of U.S. military bases, some of which house nuclear weapons.