Revealed: US plan to pay Greenlanders for sovereignty switch
A confidential White House strategy proposes direct cash payments to each of Greenland's 57,000 citizens to encourage the island's secession from Denmark and annexation by the United States. The plan, offering sums between $10,000 and $100,000 per person, has been met with fierce rejection from Danish, Greenlandic, and European leaders who assert the island is not for sale.
A confidential strategy under discussion within the Trump administration proposes a direct financial transaction with an entire population to redraw the geopolitical map of the Arctic. The plan, as revealed in reports, would see the United States offer substantial cash payments to each citizen of Greenland, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, in exchange for supporting a switch in sovereignty from Denmark to the U.S., at a potential total cost of $6 billion.
A "Commercial" Strategy for Strategic Acquisition
This unprecedented proposal represents the most concrete step yet in President Donald Trump's long-standing ambition to acquire Greenland, effectively transforming a geopolitical goal into a direct financial proposition to the island's residents. Administration officials frame the potential multibillion-dollar expenditure as a strategic investment, citing Greenland's crucial location in the Arctic, its untapped mineral wealth, and the perceived need to counter Russian and Chinese influence as matters of urgent national security. The push has reportedly intensified following other recent U.S. foreign policy actions.
Immediate and Unified Transatlantic Rejection
The revealed plan has triggered immediate and categorical condemnation across the Atlantic. Authorities in Denmark and Greenland have reiterated in the strongest terms that the autonomous territory is "not for sale." The proposal has also caused deep consternation in European capitals, with seven nations—including France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom—issuing a rare joint statement declaring that Greenland's future is a matter solely for its people and the Kingdom of Denmark. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labeled the developments "extremely worrying," while Spain's Prime Minister called the U.S. posture a direct "threat" to European territorial integrity.
Escalating Tensions and a Confrontational Stance
The controversy has been amplified by sharp rhetoric from Washington. U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized European allies, stating, "We ask our European friends to take the security of this piece of land more seriously. If they don't take it, the U.S. will have to do something," framing the cash offer as a reluctant necessity due to allied inaction. This confrontational stance, coupled with the unprecedented nature of the financial inducement, has significantly elevated diplomatic tensions, prompting an urgent request from Copenhagen and Nuuk for high-level talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Comments you share on our site are a valuable resource for other users. Please be respectful of different opinions and other users. Avoid using rude, aggressive, derogatory, or discriminatory language.