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US officials are weighing the idea of offering direct cash payments to residents of Greenland as part of a broader push to persuade the Arctic territory to break away from Denmark and potentially align with the United States, according to a report.
While no final decision has been taken, conversations within the Trump administration have included proposals for one-time payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, Reuters cited people familiar with the internal discussion as saying. The talks involving White House aides remain at an exploratory stage with key details such as the mechanism, timing and conditions of any payments still unclear.
Turning financial incentives into strategy
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The idea of making direct payments to its population offers one possible route for Washington to pursue President Donald Trump’s long-standing ambition of bringing the island under US control despite repeated insistence from authorities in Copenhagen and Nuuk that Greenland is not for sale.
The cash proposal is one of several options under discussion in the White House. Other ideas include diplomatic pathways and, at the extreme end, the potential use of military force. Critics within and outside the administration have warned that offering payments could appear blunt and transactional, especially given Greenland’s long-running internal debate over independence and its reliance on Danish economic support.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen publicly rejected the notion of annexation after Trump again spoke about acquiring the island, writing on social media that Greenlanders had had enough of what he described as fantasies about taking over the territory.
European pushback and alliance concerns
Trump’s recent remarks along with statements from senior US officials have drawn sharp reactions across Europe. Denmark and several other European governments have stressed that decisions about Greenland’s future rest solely with Greenland and Denmark.
Earlier this week, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark issued a joint statement underlining that point, a notable show of unity among NATO allies. The reactions were shaped in part by discomfort over suggestions that a fellow NATO member’s territory could be claimed or pressured through unilateral US actions.
When asked to comment on discussions about purchasing Greenland or compensating its residents, the White House pointed to recent remarks by senior officials. Trump’s press secretary confirmed that the administration was examining what a potential purchase might involve, while the US secretary of state said he would raise Greenland in talks with his Danish counterpart in Washington. Danish officials declined to comment, and Greenland’s representatives in the US did not respond to requests for comment.
Momentum after Venezuela operation
According to people briefed on internal deliberations as reported by Reuters, discussions around Greenland have intensified in recent days following a US operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Some White House aides are said to view that operation as a demonstration of resolve that could be leveraged to advance other foreign policy objectives long championed by Trump.
The president has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to US national security, citing its strategic location and its mineral resources, which are seen as important for advanced military and technological applications. He has also framed Greenland within a broader view that Washington should retain decisive geopolitical influence across the Western Hemisphere.
While conversations about acquiring Greenland date back to before Trump formally took office, one person familiar with the talks said the idea of lump-sum payments had gained renewed traction, with figures at the upper end of the proposed range now being seriously considered. At $100,000 per person, the total cost could approach $6 billion.
Independence, economics and public opinion
Among the options being discussed is the possibility of a Compact of Free Association, an arrangement the US has with a handful of Pacific island nations. Such agreements typically involve Washington providing services and security guarantees in exchange for strategic and military access. However, they have historically been signed only with independent states, meaning Greenland would likely need to separate from Denmark first.
Financial incentives could in theory be used to encourage Greenlanders to back independence in a referendum or to support such an agreement after independence. Polls consistently show strong support for eventual independence from Denmark but economic concerns have so far deterred lawmakers from calling a referendum. Surveys also indicate that most Greenlanders do not want to become part of the United States, even if they favour greater autonomy.
With inputs from agencies
