US President Donald Trump and his national security team are considering direct payments to Greenland residents to encourage secession from Denmark and potential US alignment. According to sources familiar with internal talks, aides discussed figures ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person. If approved, the plan could cost nearly $6 billion, given Greenland’s population of about 57,000. However, officials have not finalized distribution methods or legal pathways, even as interest in acquiring the territory intensifies.
Meanwhile, the White House confirmed deliberations. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is examining what a potential purchase could involve. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to meet Denmark’s foreign minister in Washington. Neither the Danish embassy nor Greenland’s Washington office offered comment.
Europe pushes back as Greenland leaders reject annexation rhetoric
Trump has repeatedly framed Greenland as a strategic necessity, citing its location and mineral resources for national security and military technology. Consequently, officials are weighing multiple approaches, including direct payments and alternative political frameworks. Still, sources cautioned that cash incentives could appear transactional and risk alienating residents who worry about economic stability after independence.
European leaders have firmly rejected the approach. In a joint statement, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain, and Denmark emphasized that only Greenland and Denmark can decide their future relationship. As a result, concerns have grown about NATO cohesion and European unity.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded sharply, saying annexation fantasies should stop. Finally, US officials are also discussing a Compact of Free Association, similar to arrangements with Micronesia and Palau, which could expand cooperation without formal annexation. Officials say discussions remain preliminary and subject to congressional scrutiny, legal review, and international diplomatic pressure.
