The Trump administration is reportedly weighing a controversial strategy to bring Greenland closer to American influence: offering substantial direct cash payments to the island's residents. According to sources cited by Reuters, the plan aims to persuade Greenlanders to support breaking away from Denmark, thereby opening the door for deeper ties with the United States.
The Cash-for-Influence Proposal
Internal discussions among US officials have centred on offering lump sum payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person to Greenland's approximately 57,000 inhabitants. With such figures, the total cost of the initiative could approach a staggering $6 billion. This proposal represents a new twist on President Donald Trump's previously stated interest in acquiring the resource-rich, semi-autonomous Danish territory, an idea that was firmly rejected by both Copenhagen and Nuuk, Greenland's capital.
The cash offer is understood to be one of several options under active consideration by Washington. Other avenues include formal diplomatic agreements and, more alarmingly, the potential use of military force. The notion of a forced annexation is particularly troubling for NATO allies, given the existing defence treaties between the US and Greenland.
Fierce International Backlash and Firm Rejections
The proposal has triggered immediate and strong reactions from leaders in Greenland and Europe. Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, issued a blunt response on Facebook, stating, "Enough is enough ... No more fantasies about annexation." European powers have also united in their opposition. In a significant joint declaration, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain, and Denmark asserted that decisions regarding Greenland's future rest solely with Greenland and Denmark, implicitly condemning any US interference.
Despite the pushback, the White House appears undeterred. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump and his national security team are examining what a potential purchase would entail. Furthermore, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet his Danish counterpart in Washington next week to discuss Greenland's future.
Strategic Motives and the Independence Conundrum
President Trump has consistently framed Greenland as critical to US national security, citing the need to counter rivals like Russia and China in the Arctic. "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark isn't going to be able to do it," he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
The discussions have gained urgency following a recent, bold US operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Democrats have criticised such tactics, accusing the President of seeking to incite conflict without full congressional approval. Another model being discussed is a Compact of Free Association, similar to agreements the US holds with Pacific island nations, which exchange financial aid and defence for military access.
However, a major hurdle exists in Greenlandic public opinion. While polls indicate most Greenlanders favour eventual independence from Denmark, surveys also show they do not wish to become part of the United States. The proposed cash payments could theoretically be used to build public support for independence as a first step toward a new pact with Washington. For now, the idea remains preliminary, but it underscores the escalating geopolitical contest for influence in the strategically vital Arctic region.
