The United States is reportedly considering offering direct cash payments to Greenland’s population as part of renewed discussions over a possible separation of the Arctic island from Denmark and a future alignment with Washington, according to people familiar with the matter, according to ORF News.
Citing four sources briefed on the talks, Reuters reported that U.S. government officials have discussed one-time payments ranging from $10,000 to as much as $100,000 per person to residents of Greenland. With a population of roughly 57,000, such a plan could cost the United States close to $6 billion. One source said internal deliberations at the White House have intensified in recent days, signaling that the idea is being taken more seriously than before.
The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump and his national security advisers are examining “what a potential purchase could look like,” reviving an idea Trump first floated during his previous term. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Denmark’s foreign minister in Washington next week, with Greenland high on the agenda.
The proposal has been met with firm resistance in both Denmark and Greenland. Authorities in Copenhagen and Nuuk swiftly rejected any notion of a sale or transfer of sovereignty. Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, issued a blunt rebuke, saying the island is not for sale and calling on Washington to abandon what he described as “annexation fantasies.”
“Enough is enough,” Nielsen said, underscoring that Greenland’s future will be decided by its own people, not foreign powers.
The controversy has also drawn a broader European response. Germany, France and the United Kingdom released a joint statement emphasizing that decisions regarding Greenland’s status and its relationship with Denmark are matters solely for Copenhagen and Nuuk. Any external attempts to influence that relationship, the statement said, are unacceptable.
Greenland, a vast, mineral-rich Arctic territory strategically located between North America and Europe, has long attracted U.S. interest for both geopolitical and security reasons. While the island enjoys extensive self-rule, Denmark retains authority over defense and foreign policy.
For now, Greenland’s leaders appear determined to close the door on U.S. overtures, making clear that financial incentives will not sway their stance on sovereignty or self-determination.
