Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Senior officials in the administration of former US President Donald Trump explored the idea of offering direct financial payments to residents of Greenland as part of a broader effort to draw the Arctic island away from Denmark and potentially into the United States’ orbit, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
Four informed sources said American officials examined proposals that would involve sending cash payments directly to Greenland’s population, estimated at around 57,000 people. While no final figure or implementation plan was agreed upon, two of the sources said the amounts under discussion ranged from 10,000 to 100,000 dollars per person. The talks reportedly involved senior figures, including officials within the White House, though the idea never advanced to a formal policy proposal.
The notion of direct payments sheds new light on how Washington may have sought to advance its long-standing interest in Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It also underscores the seriousness with which the Trump administration viewed the possibility of expanding US influence in the Arctic, despite repeated and unequivocal statements from both Copenhagen and Nuuk that Greenland is not for sale.
Trump publicly revived the idea of acquiring Greenland during his presidency, arguing that control of the vast, ice-covered island was vital for US national security. Greenland’s strategic value lies in its location between North America and Europe, its proximity to key Arctic shipping routes, and its hosting of the US-operated Thule Air Base, a critical component of American missile defense and space surveillance systems. The island is also believed to possess significant untapped reserves of rare earth minerals, oil, and gas, resources that are becoming increasingly important amid global competition.
Greenland enjoys extensive self-rule, managing most of its domestic affairs, while Denmark retains responsibility for defense, foreign policy, and monetary matters. Denmark is a member of both NATO and the European Union, placing Greenland at the intersection of transatlantic security arrangements, even though the territory itself is not part of the EU.
The reported US discussions have prompted concern among European leaders. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday that the European Union had examined potential responses should American threats to acquire Greenland prove to be genuine. Her remarks reflect growing unease in Europe about the implications of any unilateral US move affecting a strategically sensitive region.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been particularly vocal, warning that any American attempt to seize or coerce control of Greenland would have profound consequences for Western alliances. Speaking at a press conference in Cairo alongside Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Frederiksen described the messages coming from Washington regarding Greenland as “extremely worrying,” adding that an attack on the territory would risk the collapse of NATO and undermine the security order established after World War II.
Greenlandic leaders have consistently emphasized their desire to determine their own future, rejecting both the idea of being sold and any external pressure to change their political status. While some Greenlanders support eventual independence from Denmark, public opinion has remained cautious, particularly when it comes to closer integration with another major power.
Although the proposal to pay Greenland residents never materialized, its emergence highlights the intensifying geopolitical competition in the Arctic, where climate change is opening new sea lanes and access to resources. As global powers increasingly look northward, Greenland’s strategic importance is likely to continue growing, ensuring that the island remains at the center of diplomatic and security debates for years to come.
