US President Donald Trump has once again signaled his desire to annex Greenland and make the Arctic island an American state. This time he has published a series of AI-generated images showing him placing the US flag on the island, while sharing a gushing message of praise from the NATO chief—or more precisely, spokesperson—the Dutchman Mark Rutte. In the message, Rutte urges Trump to find a way forward for his Greenland plans, despite opposition and criticism from his European colleagues. This comes just months after he referred to Trump as “daddy.”
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has long attracted American interest because of its strategic position and extensive mineral resources. The US already has a military base on the island, but according to Trump, this is not enough as protection—he now wants to make Greenland an American state.
Trump claims that his motive is solely about national security and not the island’s natural resources, even though the island has vast resources. Vice President JD Vance has previously spoken about the US’s interest in these “fantastic natural resources.”
If Trump’s goal were only military protection, expanding the existing base would probably suffice. Instead, he wants to make the entire island American territory, something many observers believe is also linked to the island’s natural resources. Neither China nor Russia has confirmed Trump’s statements about warships near Greenland, and Denmark has clearly dismissed this as false.
The turbulent situation around Greenland has caused rifts within the NATO military alliance, with several European countries, including Sweden, clearly marking their opposition to the idea of the US taking over the island under the pretext of national security. Meanwhile, the European Mark Rutte, former prime minister of the Netherlands and now NATO Secretary General, has sent a gushing message to the US president.
Rutte is often portrayed as a leading figure within NATO, but in practice, his role is primarily as a spokesperson: the White House and Pentagon hold military authority, while Rutte serves as a sort of PR representative, holding the member states together and communicating outwardly.
ALSO READ: Putin on NATO’s Secretary General: He Is Incompetent
His latest message to Trump has attracted attention on social media for being a fawning tribute. It also contains peculiar wording, such as “looking forward to seeing you” and “yours, Mark.”
Mr. President, dear Donald – what you achieved in Syria today is incredible. I will use my media appearances in Davos to highlight your work there, in Gaza, and in Ukraine. I am determined to find a way forward for Greenland. Looking forward to seeing you. Yours, Mark.
The message in full.
This is not the first time Mark Rutte has flattered Trump. Last summer, Rutte sent a long and ingratiating message to Trump ahead of a NATO summit.
In the message, Rutte wrote that he had gotten NATO countries in Europe to agree to spend five percent of GDP on defense.
“Europe will pay up, as they should – and that will be your victory,” Mark Rutte praised his boss in the White House.
READ MORE: NATO Chief to Trump: “Europe will pay UP, as they should – and it will be your victory”
New Images Show the Plans
Ahead of Trump’s visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week, Trump has continued to signal that the US will annex Greenland. Today he has published several AI-generated images showing what may soon be coming.
One of the images shows him in the White House together with European leaders, with the American flag placed over both Greenland and Canada. Trump has said that if he is not allowed to annex and expand the US, he believes both China and Russia could seize the opportunity to do so.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said they have no plans to take over Greenland, and that the Trump administration is aware of this, according to news agency Reuters.
Furthermore, Russia considers Greenland to be part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but not a natural part of the country.
– In principle, Greenland is not a natural part of Denmark, is it, said Lavrov, and continued:
– It was neither a natural part of Norway nor of Denmark. It is a colonial conquest. That the inhabitants are now used to it and feel comfortable is quite another matter.
Called Trump “daddy”
This summer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called US President Donald Trump “daddy” during a press conference at the NATO summit.
The backdrop was that during a press conference on the summit’s final day, Trump commented on the war between Israel and Iran, saying the two countries are like two quarrelsome children. But he believes the fighting is now over.
– They’re like two kids in the schoolyard. They fight like crazy. You can’t get them to stop. But if you let them fight for two or three minutes, it’s easier to stop them afterward, Trump said.
ALSO READ: NATO Chief on Trump: “Daddy”
At this, Mark Rutte interjected during the press conference:
– Sometimes daddy has to use strong language.
Speculation about Rutte
While Rutte often speaks forcefully about Europe needing to prepare for a major war with Russia, Dutch media have for many years speculated about the former prime minister’s private life and relationship status.
ALSO READ: NATO Chief Warns: Europe Must Prepare for World War Three
Rutte himself generally avoids commenting on this, but what is known is that he has always been unmarried and has no children—something that has contributed to speculation.
ALSO READ: NATO Warning: Invest More in the Military or Teach Your Children Russian!
Trouble in Paradise
The long lauded entry into the US-led military alliance NATO—a decision made without giving the Swedish people a say—has lately come under heavy criticism from various quarters. Most recently, Sweden’s former Defense Minister and Moderate Party profile Mikael Odenberg has voiced his opinion.
ALSO READ: FHS Professor Questions NATO and Wants to Terminate the DCA Agreement
“NATO FACES COLLAPSE,” he begins in a Facebook post, continuing with an attack on NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
ALSO READ: Survey: Five Out of Six Swedes Opposed to Military Agreement with the US
“Mark Rutte kissed up to Trump and the EU responded weakly to the US tariff threats,” it also says.
ALSO READ: Sweden’s Peace Council: “SD and S Have Betrayed Sweden”