Key facts
- Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton stated that President Trump's renewed calls for US control of Greenland are a deliberate attempt to provoke reactions.
- Bolton characterized Trump's remarks as 'trolling' and a tactic to 'drive people crazy'.
- Trump reiterated his view that Greenland is strategically important to US security and criticized Denmark's efforts.
- Bolton suggested that Trump's comments should be viewed as part of his political style, not a definitive foreign policy stance.
- The former adviser questioned the necessity of annual NATO summits, citing potential political turbulence.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has dismissed Donald Trump's renewed calls for US control of Greenland as a deliberate attempt to provoke reactions, telling Euronews the US president often makes such remarks 'because it drives people crazy'. Speaking during Euronews' special coverage of the NATO summit in Ankara, Bolton said Trump's latest comments on Greenland should be seen as part of his political style rather than an indication of US foreign policy. Trump repeated at the NATO summit that Greenland should come under US control, arguing the strategically important Arctic territory is vital to US security, while lashing at Denmark for not doing enough to fortify it. Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser during his first term in office, said the president has a long history of making provocative statements simply to attract attention. 'He's trolling people,' Bolton told Euronews. 'Why does he talk about taking Greenland? Because it drives people crazy. That's what it's about.' Bolton also questioned the need for NATO to continue holding annual leaders' summits, suggesting that holding fewer summits could also reduce the risk of political turbulence, given the uncertainty surrounding Trump's future approach to the alliance.