Donald Trump brings Greenland back on agenda

US President Donald Trump's renewed attention to Greenland and uncertainty with US troop levels in Europe is putting pressure on European countries as the president makes repeated demands for the territory, according to experts.

Trump suggested Wednesday that the decision on US troop levels in Europe depends on Greenland, on his way back from the NATO Summit in Turkey.

"I haven't made that final determination," the president said when asked about oscillating on how many troops the US plans to keep in Europe.

"A lot's gonna depend on Greenland," Trump added, and on making what he called "a very good deal on Greenland." He didn't elaborate.

The Pentagon is still waiting for clarity after Trump recently suggested that he would send 5,000 US troops to Poland - weeks after ordering the same number pulled from Europe following a dispute with German officials over the Iran war.

Trump has long caused consternation among US allies by suggesting that Washington should control Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark.

Trump did not suggest before or during the NATO summit that wrapped up Wednesday that Greenland might help determine troop levels in Europe.

At the summit, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated the country's stance that Greenland is not for sale.

"We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenlandic people's right for self-determination. And we are a sovereign state and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and sovereignty," said Frederiksen.

Trump defends the US needs Greenland to deter threats from Russia and China, and has repeatedly made false claims of Chinese and Russian military forces lurking off the island's coastline.

Greenland also guards part of what is known as the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) Gap, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.