Bonnie Cash / EPA
US President Donald Trump.
The American government is considering paying between 10 thousand and 100 thousand dollars each to 50 thousand inhabitants of Greenland to convince them to annex themselves to the United States.
US authorities discussed the possibility of offer direct payments in a single installment to Greenland residents as part of an effort to persuade the Arctic territory to secede from Denmark and annex itself to the United States.
According to sources heard by , the discussions represent a significant escalation in long-standing interest of Washington in acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory with a population of about 57 thousand inhabitants.
Although no final decision has been made, values ranging from 10 thousand to 100 thousand dollars per person were mentioned in conversations involving White House aides, the sources said. At the upper limit, such payments would total almost $6 billion. The idea reflects one of several strategies being considered by the Trump administration, along with diplomatic pressure and, in more extreme scenarios, possible military involvement.
The proposal offers a vision of how the US could attempt to “buy” Greenland, despite firm statements from officials in Copenhagen and Nuuk that the island is not for sale. Critics warn that the approach risks appearing highly transactional and disrespectful to Greenlanders, who have long debated independence from Denmark and grappled with economic dependence on Danish support.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded sharply to President Donald Trump’s renewed comments, writing on social media that Greenland would not tolerate “any more fantasies about annexation”. European leaders echoed this sentiment. Earlier this week, Denmark joined France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom in a joint statement saying that only Greenland and Denmark have the authority to decide the island’s future.
The White House did not deny that acquisition scenarios are being examined. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that Trump and his national security team are evaluating what a purchase might entail, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed plans to discuss Greenland with Denmark’s foreign minister during talks in Washington. Danish and Greenlandic authorities declined to comment on the alleged payment discussions.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is crucial to US national securityciting its strategic location in the Arctic and abundance of advanced military technologies. It also framed Greenland as part of a broader vision of strengthening U.S. influence across the Western Hemisphere.
According to sources, internal discussions about Greenland have intensified in recent days, driven by what advisers consider to be an impulse resulting from a dramatic North American operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Some officials believe this success could help advance other long-held geopolitical goals, including Greenland.
One option that would be considered is a Free Association Pact (COFA), a framework the US has used with Pacific island nations such as Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Under such agreements, the US provides services such as defense and mail delivery, while also gaining broad military access and preferential trade terms. For Greenland, this path would almost certainly require independence from Denmark.
In theory, payments to Greenlanders could be used to encourage a vote for independence or to support acceptance of a COFA agreement following such a vote. While polls show strong support among Greenlanders for eventual independence, concerns about economic stability following the loss of Danish subsidies have left lawmakers hesitant to call a referendum. Polls also indicate that, although many are in favor of independence, the majority of Greenlanders do not want to become part of the United States.
