A message attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump tied his push for control of Greenland to the fact that he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize last year, according to two European officials who described the note’s contents. The officials said the message was sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and circulated among European diplomats in Washington.
In the message as relayed by the officials, Trump referenced “8 Wars” he said he had stopped and suggested the Nobel decision changed his posture, adding that peace would remain “predominant” while giving him latitude to pursue what he viewed as U.S. interests. The note’s final line, as described by the officials, asserted that “the World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and Trump’s language has sharpened a dispute with close U.S. partners over the strategic Arctic island.
Tariffs, Troops, And A Fast-Moving European Response
The episode unfolded amid Trump’s announcement of a 10% import tax on goods from eight countries that have backed Denmark and Greenland in the dispute, including Norway, according to the report. European officials said Trump framed the tariffs as retaliation for recent allied actions regarding Greenland, while also signaling they could serve as leverage in negotiations with Denmark.
European governments, however, characterized the troop presence as limited and linked to Arctic security training, citing concerns about Russian and Chinese activity in the region. In Brussels, officials also pointed to the broader implications of coercive pressure on an ally. European Council President Antonio Costa said EU leaders had expressed readiness to respond to “coercion” and announced a leaders’ meeting for Thursday evening.
Separate from the EU response, Denmark’s defense minister and Greenland’s foreign minister were expected to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels, a meeting that had been planned before the latest escalation.
Leaders Signal De-Escalation While Greenland Protests Grow
While allied governments criticized the tariff threat, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he believed military action over Greenland was unlikely and argued the dispute should be handled through “calm discussion.” Starmer also said a trade war would benefit no one, while emphasizing that pragmatism should not require abandoning principles.
On the island itself, the report said thousands of Greenlanders demonstrated over the weekend against any attempt to seize control of the island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on Facebook that tariff threats would not alter Greenland’s position, adding: “We will not be pressured.”
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business, minerals, energy, justice and equality, told the AP that the speed of allied pushback was striking and suggested the dispute was being viewed as bigger than Greenland itself. She said some countries feared that conceding on Greenland could invite further pressure elsewhere.
Greenland’s political status is often central to such debates: it has extensive local self-rule, while remaining part of the Danish realm, and is home to about 56,000 people, according to Danish government information.
Nobel Prize Questions And Davos Pushback
Trump’s message also prompted questions about the Nobel reference. Gahr Støre confirmed receiving a text from Trump but did not disclose its content. He said Trump’s message responded to an earlier communication sent on his behalf and that of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, which urged de-escalation and proposed a phone call among the leaders.
Støre said Norway’s position was that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that Norway supports Denmark on the matter. He also underscored that the Nobel is awarded by an independent committee, not the Norwegian government.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Trump’s approach to Greenland, disputing the idea that the president’s actions were driven by Nobel considerations and describing Greenland as a strategic asset tied to security interests. The White House, the report said, did not respond to questions about the message.
Trump’s interest in Greenland has precedent. In 2019, he publicly discussed purchasing Greenland, and he canceled a planned visit to Denmark after Danish leaders rejected the idea, according to reporting at the time.
