President Donald Trump fired off a pointed message to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, declaring no further obligation to prioritize pure peace
after Oslo denied him the Nobel Peace Prize. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace," Trump wrote, per PBS reports. He pivoted to Greenland, slamming Denmark's hold as indefensible against Russia or China threats, insisting NATO repay his revival efforts with full US control of the strategic Arctic territory. Trump contrasted his record with Barack Obama's 2009 award, claiming he alone rebuilt deterrence that Beijing and Moscow respect. The missive aligns with his Truth Social blasts crediting millions of lives saved and NATO spending hikes under his watch. Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado's recent Nobel medal gift to Trump at the White House—later clarified non-transferable by Oslo—underscored his prize fixation, which he dismissed as irrelevant yet pivotal. Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen rejected tariff blackmail Sunday, joining European leaders in decrying a "dangerous downward spiral." Trump plans 10% levies on goods from France, Germany, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Finland starting February 1, rising to 25% by June absent a Greenland deal. Early Monday, he reiterated NATO's 20-year nudge to Denmark on Russian risks near the territory.
Greenland Standoff Fuels NATO Rift
Norway's Nobel stewardship amplifies Trump's leverage play, questioning Danish "right of ownership" via ancient boat landings. He argued current pacts fall short, demanding "Complete and Total Control" for world security. European counterparts, including Germany's Friedrich Merz and Finland's Alexander Stubb, rallied behind Denmark, stressing Arctic NATO commitments without economic coercion.
France's Emmanuel Macron eyes EU "trade bazooka" activation in retaliation, per prior reports. Denmark insists Greenland stays off limits, with its autonomy firm under Copenhagen. Trump's tariff timeline pressures allies already jittery over his reelection pledges.
The exchange risks fracturing transatlantic bonds forged post-WWII. Norway, Nobel host since 1901, faces unusual US ire blending prize politics with geostrategic grabs. Greenland's minerals, routes, and bases loom large amid Arctic rivalry.
Trump's Prize Grievance Resurfaces
Repeated claims of single-handedly halting wars echo campaign rhetoric, framing Obama as underserving. Machado's gesture, hailed as "mutual respect," drew Nobel Centre clarification: medals shift hands, laureate status does not.
Denmark and Norway coordinate responses, eyeing joint statements. Trump's NATO praise flips to demands, echoing past spending shames. As tariffs near, Brussels diplomats huddle on countermeasures. Observers track White House readouts and Støre's reply. Greenland's Inuit leadership rejects sale talks outright. Escalation tests Trump's dealmaker pose against alliance strains.
