In a series of text exchanges with European leaders, US President Donald Trump has forcefully asserted his desire to gain control over Greenland, tying his demands to the Nobel Peace Prize and NATO commitments. The revelations have sent shockwaves through the international community, with European nations struggling to respond to Trump’s uncompromising stance.
The messages, obtained through freedom of information requests, show Trump informing Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that he no longer feels obligated to prioritise peace, now that he has been denied the Nobel Peace Prize. The US President claimed that Denmark cannot protect Greenland from the influence of Russia and China, and questioned Denmark’s “right of ownership” over the territory, arguing that the US has a historical claim as well.
Trump also directly linked his Greenland demands to NATO, stating that the alliance “should do something for the United States” in return for his contributions. The President went on to declare that “the World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
In a separate exchange, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed bewilderment at Trump’s Greenland stance, writing: “I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.” Macron proposed convening a G7 meeting in Paris to discuss the issue, as well as a personal dinner with Trump.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s accomplishments in Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine, and pledged to find a way forward on the Greenland dispute during the upcoming Davos forum.
The revelations have left European leaders scrambling to respond to Trump’s uncompromising position. Commentators have described the situation as one where “Europe is at a total loss,” with Russia seemingly gloating over the tensions between the US and its European allies.
As the diplomatic standoff continues, the world watches anxiously to see how this high-stakes geopolitical tug-of-war over Greenland will ultimately play out.
