On 16 August 2019, US President Donald Trump sent an extraordinary letter to the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, regarding his desire for the United States to acquire the territory of Greenland. The letter, obtained by The Update Desk, outlines the President’s rationale for the proposed acquisition and has sparked a diplomatic row between Washington and Copenhagen.
In the letter, President Trump states that the US would be “willing to pay a large real estate deal” to take “complete and total control” of Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. He argues that the acquisition would be “strategically very important” for the US and would “substantially benefit both the United States and Greenland.”
The President cites Greenland’s “vast wealth of minerals, including uranium” as a key motivation, and suggests that the territory’s location would be “an important military and strategic stronghold for the United States.” He also claims that Greenland is “essentially a large real estate deal” and that the US would be prepared to offer a “substantial amount” to purchase the island.
In response, the Danish Prime Minister Erna Solberg firmly rejected the proposal, stating that “Greenland is not for sale.” A spokesperson for the Danish government described the letter as “absurd” and reiterated that Greenland is an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The White House has not officially confirmed the authenticity of the letter, though President Trump has publicly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland on several occasions. The proposal has been met with widespread criticism, with many commentators describing it as an unnecessary and inappropriate attempt to exert US influence over a sovereign territory.
Experts have also questioned the feasibility and legality of such a purchase, given Greenland’s status as an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark. The territory’s government has made it clear that they have no intention of becoming part of the United States, and that the decision would ultimately rest with the Danish parliament.
The diplomatic fallout from this incident has the potential to strain relations between the US and its NATO ally Denmark. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, but the President’s letter has undoubtedly caused a significant stir in the international community.
