Washington: Amid evolving global tensions and developments in Venezuela, US President Donald Trump has proposed a sharp increase in America’s defence budget to USD 1.5 trillion for fiscal year 2027. At the same time, remarks by the Trump administration regarding Greenland have ignited an intense political debate in Washington over national security, NATO relations, and diplomatic priorities.
President Trump announced that he intends to raise the defence budget from USD 1 trillion to USD 1.5 trillion, calling the move essential to keeping the United States secure in the current global environment. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the decision was taken after discussions with senators, members of Congress, and senior officials on America’s security needs.
Trump stated that the increased spending would help build a “dream military” capable of fully protecting the country against any adversary. He linked the proposed hike directly to revenue generated from tariffs imposed on other countries, arguing that without this income, defence spending would have remained capped at USD 1 trillion.
Taking a swipe at the previous administration, Trump claimed that government revenues were significantly lower during President Joe Biden’s tenure, though he did not cite specific figures. He asserted that even with higher military expenditure, the United States would be able to reduce its national debt and potentially provide dividends to patriotic middle-class Americans.
However, Trump did not clarify how the USD 1.5 trillion defence budget would be allocated, nor how approval would be secured from Congress. As the US already has the world’s largest military budget, the proposed increase is expected to spark heated debate on fiscal deficits, domestic priorities, and global responsibilities, especially amid tensions with China and Russia, the war in Ukraine, and instability in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, comments from the Trump administration on Greenland have caused a political stir. The White House described the issue as part of active national security discussions, linking it to concerns over growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic region. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the matter was being examined by the President and his national security team, while stressing that diplomacy remains Trump’s top priority.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Trump has spoken about Greenland since his first term, adding that keeping all options open is standard practice for safeguarding national security, even as the US prefers diplomatic solutions over military action.
In Congress, lawmakers across party lines cautioned against the use of force and emphasised the importance of NATO cooperation. Several members reiterated that Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and highlighted the long-standing US military presence there through the Pituffik Space Base, which plays a key role in missile warning and space surveillance.
The controversy intensified after a social media post by Katie Miller, wife of Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, depicted Greenland draped in the US flag with the word “Soon,” drawing strong objections from Denmark.
