Trump intensifies confrontation between Greenland and its allies, linking it to what he perceives as a snub for the Nobel Peace Prize

America’s European allies stood united Monday against President Trump’s escalating campaign to seize control of Greenland. accusing him of blackmail with a new threat of tariffs if they continue to reject his offer for the United States to acquire the vast island. Trump, meanwhile, appeared to hint that he was still willing to use the U.S. military to achieve his goal.

In a message sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and shared with other NATO allies, Trump said that due to the decision of award the Nobel Peace Prize to someone other than himself This year he no longer feels “the obligation to think only of Peace,” and that “he can now think about what is good and appropriate for the United States of America.”

In the next sentence, Trump refers to his controversial demand that the United States seize Greenland, which has been the territory of Denmark, an American ally, for centuries. He renews his claim that only total US control can prevent the strategic arctic island fall into the hands of China or Russia.

Trump’s claims about Greenland and US security

America’s closest allies in NATO have rejected Trump’s argument, along with US lawmakers from both sides of the hallwaythat the United States needs to own Greenland for security reasons.

They point out that Greenland is already under the protection of the transatlantic alliance as Danish territory, that the United States has had at least one military base on the island since World War II and Denmark has extended an open invitation to Washington to increase that defense presence in partnership with its allies.

Despite those facts, and the efforts of Denmark and other European NATO members to show understanding and willingness to address the growing competition for control of vital new sea routes Regarding the resource-rich island, Trump states again in his message to Norway’s leader that “the world will not be safe unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”

He maintains that Denmark is unable to protect Arctic territory from Russian and Chinese threats, threats that Senator Mark Warner, Democratic vice-chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, called fictitious over the weekend.

“Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China,” Trump wrote, ignoring the fact that for nearly 80 years, since the United States and its European allies committed to the principle of joint security with the founding treaty of NATO, the protection of Greenland has been a shared responsibility.

Trump questions in the note, as he has done before, Denmark’s right to any claim to Greenland, arguing that the basis is only that “a ship landed there hundreds of years ago, but we also had ships that landed there.”

Denmark became the colonial power in Greenland in the early 18th century, about 50 years before the United States became a sovereign nation with its own navy. Greenland remained a Danish colony until 1953, when the island gained its current semi-autonomy.

Although the population is small, around 60,000 people, Greenland has its own elected government, and both the island’s leaders and the Greenlandic people have made it very clear that they do not want to be part of the US.

Norway’s leader responds to Trump’s message

The Norwegian government on Monday shared a statement from Prime Minister Støre confirming that he received Trump’s message on Sunday afternoon.

He said it came in response to a text message he had sent together with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

“In our message to Trump we conveyed our opposition to his announced tariff increases against Norway, Finland and select other countries. We noted the need to de-escalate and proposed a telephone conversation between Trump, Stubb and myself on the same day. Trump’s response came shortly after the message was sent,” Støre said in the statement, adding that it was “Mr. Trump’s decision to share his message with other NATO leaders.”

“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark in this matter. We also support NATO responsibly taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic,” Støre said.

He added: “As for the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to President Trump, what is well known: the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.”

UK leader doubts Trump will use US military to take Greenland

Trump surprised America’s NATO allies over the weekend by threatening to impose new tariffs on Denmark and seven other European nations if they continue to reject their demands to seize Greenland.

After holding talks among themselves on Sunday, the eight countries issued a joint statement saying they were “committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest,” while reiterating their support for Denmark and Greenland.

They said they were “ready to engage in dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we strongly support” and warned that threats of tariffs undermine “transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has maintained good relations with Trump and spoke to him by phone on Sunday, acknowledged in televised remarks Monday morning that the Arctic region “will require greater attention, greater investment and stronger collective defense” and said the United States “will be central to that effort and the United Kingdom is ready to contribute fully alongside our allies, through NATO.”

“But there is a principle here that cannot be left aside, because it goes to the heart of how stable and reliable international cooperation works, so any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs solely to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,” Starmer said.

“Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and the United States, a proud member of NATO that has stood shoulder to shoulder with us, even at real human cost in recent decades,” Starmer said, alluding to Danish troops fighting alongside US and British forces in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of the NATO alliance.

“Alliances endure because they are based on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I said that the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it useful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland’s security as a justification for economic pressure,” he said. “A trade war benefits no one.”

As for Trump not ruling out using the U.S. military to seize territory from a NATO ally, Starmer said he didn’t think it would come to that.

“Actually, I don’t,” he said. “I believe this can and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles that I have set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland.”