US President Donald Trump has suggested that his continued interest in annexing Greenland is partly driven by his disappointment over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a letter addressed to Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump claimed that Norway’s failure to award him the prize freed him from what he described as an obligation to focus solely on peace. He argued that his role in stopping multiple global conflicts had been overlooked.
Trump wrote that after missing out on the prize, he now feels justified in prioritising what he believes is best for the United States, including his long-standing interest in Greenland. He questioned Denmark’s ownership of the autonomous territory, arguing that the country lacks the capacity to defend it against potential threats from Russia or China.
According to Trump, Greenland is strategically vital to global security, insisting that the world would remain unsafe unless the United States exercised “complete and total control” over the territory. He also claimed to have contributed more to NATO than any leader since the alliance’s founding and suggested the organisation should reciprocate by supporting US interests.
In response, Prime Minister Støre clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded independently by the Nobel Committee and not by the Norwegian government. He stressed that the decision had nothing to do with state authorities.
Greenland is an autonomous territory under Denmark, and both Denmark and Norway are members of NATO. The alliance operates on the principle of collective defence, and since its creation in 1949, no member has attacked another.
Danish authorities have warned that any US military action in Greenland could severely damage NATO, a concern echoed by several European nations. Trump recently escalated tensions by threatening to impose tariffs on European allies, including the United Kingdom, over their opposition to his Greenland proposal.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance would continue working with Denmark and Greenland on Arctic security issues, underscoring the region’s growing geopolitical importance.
Meanwhile, María Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, recently presented her gold medal to Trump during a White House meeting. Trump accepted the gesture, describing it as a sign of mutual respect, but it did not appear to soften his stance on the possibility of military action in Greenland.
