During the NATO summit in Ankara, US President Donald Trump immediately raised several significant geopolitical issues. In addition to the war in Ukraine, he praised the role of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in seeking a peaceful solution, reiterated his proposal for Greenland to join the United States, and indirectly touched upon the ambitious project of a tunnel under the Bering Strait, which could potentially connect Russia and the United States in the future.
Trump stated during a joint appearance with the Turkish president that Erdogan is making a significant contribution to diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. According to the US president, Turkey is helping not only to find a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine but also in issues related to Iran.
"I have very good relations with both Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. We will resolve it, and President Erdogan is helping us with that, just as he is helping us with Iran," Trump said.
Turkey has long been one of the few countries that maintain working relationships with both sides of the conflict. Ankara has hosted several rounds of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in the past and also brokered an agreement on grain exports through the Black Sea.
Another prominent topic was the future of Greenland. Trump repeated his long-held view that the strategically important island should come under US control. He believes that the current situation is disadvantageous not only for the United States but also for Denmark itself.
"Greenland should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump said. He added that the island is of crucial importance to American security and is located in an area where Chinese and Russian ships operate.
The US president also stated that the dispute over Greenland has damaged relations between the United States and some allies in NATO. According to him, Denmark does not allocate sufficient resources to the development of Greenland, and the United States could ensure a better future for this autonomous territory.
Washington announced the start of negotiations on the future status of Greenland at the beginning of this year. The US administration claims that the talks are ongoing and have yielded some progress, while the Danish side has consistently rejected the possibility of transferring the island to US administration.
Statements from Russia regarding the planned tunnel under the Bering Strait, which would connect Russian Chukotka with American Alaska, also attracted attention.
The project was previously highlighted by Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Affairs and Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. He stated that Russia intends to complete the design documentation by the end of 2026 and did not rule out the possible participation of China.
The statements made by Donald Trump and representatives of Russia indicate that, in addition to ongoing security talks, broader geopolitical and economic projects are increasingly being discussed, which could influence future relations between world powers. While the issue of peace in Ukraine remains a top priority, debates about Greenland or the connection between Russia and North America suggest that long-term strategic visions are once again being raised alongside security issues.