Donald Trump has renewed his threat to take control of Greenland hours after meeting Mark Rutte.<\/p>\n
The United States president accused Nato<\/a> of abandoning his country during the Iran war<\/a> and took aim at the Danish territory after meeting Mr Rutte, the alliance\u2019s secretary general, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Mr Trump declared that \u201cNato wasn\u2019t there when we needed them, and they won\u2019t be there if we need them again\u201d.<\/p>\n He also called the Danish territory a \u201cbig, poorly run piece of ice\u201d.<\/p>\n The outburst came despite Mr Rutte insisting that a meeting between the pair earlier on Wednesday had been a frank and open discussion between \u201ctwo good friends\u201d.<\/p>\n Mr Rutte is renowned as being a \u201cTrump whisperer\u201d<\/a>, but the US president\u2019s criticism of Nato<\/a> on Wednesday afternoon reinforced the significance of their meeting for the future of the alliance.<\/p>\n Mr Trump has long coveted Greenland<\/a>, a semi-autonomous territory of Nato member Denmark, repeatedly suggesting the US should take control of it<\/a>, citing its strategic military value and natural resources.<\/p>\n During the meeting with Mr Rutte, Mr Trump raised the question of withdrawing from the alliance, as well as removing troops from countries which he said had failed to support the US mission in Iran.<\/p>\n