Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a development that has stirred international attention and diplomatic tension, **U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly weighing a controversial strategy to encourage the people of Greenland—an autonomous territory of Denmark—to secede and potentially join the United States. Central to the discussions is a proposal to offer **one-time cash payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per resident as an incentive for Greenlanders to back a break from Danish rule and favour closer ties with Washington.
According to multiple sources familiar with internal White House deliberations, the lump-sum payments could form part of a broader bid to shift political sentiment in Greenland and open the door to a future alignment with the United States. While precise figures and mechanisms remain undefined, officials — including aides close to the President — have discussed amounts within the $10,000–$100,000 range per person, potentially amounting to a total package approaching several billion dollars given Greenland’s population of roughly 57,000 people.
The proposal, first reported by Reuters and widely picked up by global media on January 8, 2026, reflects renewed interest in Greenland by the U.S. administration amid concerns over Arctic geopolitics, natural resources and strategic military positioning. Discussions are said to accompany other proposals ranging from establishing a Compact of Free Association — a U.S. arrangement used with several Pacific island nations — to more assertive geopolitical strategies aimed at reducing European influence in the Arctic.
However, Greenland’s political leadership and the Danish government have firmly rejected the notion that the island is for sale or up for negotiation. Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has publicly dismissed annexation fantasies and reaffirmed that decisions over Greenland’s future rest with its people and the Government of Denmark. Copenhagen, which retains sovereignty over the territory, has echoed that position, emphasising respect for existing relationships and the principle of self-determination.
The idea of offering direct cash incentives has already met scepticism and outright opposition. Critics, especially in Denmark and across Europe, warn that such an approach undermines Greenland’s autonomy and international law, potentially destabilising longstanding alliances within NATO. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been particularly forceful, asserting that Greenland isn’t for sale and urging Washington to respect territorial integrity. European nations including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have rallied behind Denmark in statements reaffirming the sovereignty of the Danish kingdom and Greenland’s right to decide its own future.
At the same time, the U.S. White House has signalled that military options remain part of broader strategic discussions, even as officials attempt to frame the cash incentive plan as a peaceful and democratic means of influence. A recent briefing acknowledged that all “options” are on the table to secure U.S. interests in the Arctic, a region seen as crucial in countering perceived geopolitical challenges from Russia and China.
While the discussions reflect a dramatic and unusual chapter in U.S. foreign policy, opinion polls indicate that a strong majority of Greenlanders favour complete independence from Denmark but remain reluctant to become part of the United States, further complicating the feasibility of any proposal that would transfer sovereignty. Analysts also note that no formal mechanism exists for Greenland to secede and join another nation without first gaining full independence through a referendum and a negotiated legal process.
Beyond diplomatic resistance, legal and constitutional hurdles pose significant barriers. Even if Greenlanders were inclined to support such payments, the process for changing sovereignty would require negotiating not only with Denmark and Greenland’s self-government but also navigating complex international law regarding territorial transfers — a process that could take years and entail extensive debate in both Copenhagen and Nuuk.
Despite the controversy, the reported discussions underscore a sharply assertive approach by Trump’s administration toward U.S. interests in the Arctic, reflecting broader strategic recalibrations as global powers compete for influence in the polar regions. Whether the cash incentive proposal advances beyond internal deliberations remains uncertain, but the public reaction from Denmark and Greenland suggests that any move toward acquisition or alignment will be met with substantial political and diplomatic resistance.
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