$700 billion? Or $6 billion? Trump has not hinted at any purchase price. NBC has mentioned $700 billion as a possible purchase price. The information is taken from anonymous sources with insight into American planning groups. The source is said to be uncertain but is said to come from researchers and former officials who have assessed the strategic value and availability of minerals.
Denmark would likely be the recipient, but through a bilateral agreement, Greenland’s self-government would share in the proceeds. If Greenland received the full purchase price, it would mean around $12 billion per Greenlander. The sum is equivalent to just over half of the US defense budget.
According to White House calculations, there has also been talk of a compensation for each Greenlander in the range of $10,000–100,000. Calculated to the higher option, this would mean a total of up to $6 billion. The offer will likely have to be significantly sweetened if the residents are to be persuaded to become Americans.
Trump’s counterpart?
Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark exercises ultimate sovereignty ( ultima auctoritas ) over foreign policy, defense, and international agreements, including any territorial transactions.
According to the 2009 Home Rule Act, the Greenlandic government (Naalakkersuisut) handles internal affairs such as the economy and natural resources, while Denmark is responsible for international negotiations. A purchase agreement would therefore legally be concluded with the Danish government, not with Greenland’s.
Trump would negotiate with the Danish Prime Minister and government, while the Greenland government and people have veto rights through self-determination principles in international law.
Danish cunning saves Greenland
Both governments have rejected a sale, but Denmark is the formal party to the agreement. The likelihood of a deal between the US and Greenland is virtually zero. This increases the risk of war, even though Trump claims to have stopped such plans.
The framework agreement between Trump and NATO Secretary General Rutte gives Denmark and Greenland breathing space. The governments will never approve a transfer of territory as the framework agreement suggests, but will only give the go-ahead to Thule-type bases under the agreements from 1951 and 2004.
When Trump realizes that the non-binding NATO-US framework agreement has stalled, Denmark and NATO have armed Greenland sufficiently to make an occupation impossible.
Davos
After the meeting in Davos and contacts with NATO Secretary General Rutte, Trump says he will refrain from military attack. There could be several explanations: opinion polls show no support, Republicans in Congress are revolting, and generals may refuse to obey an illegal order. Finally, there are also legal risks.
A weighty reason could be to cool down a NATO military buildup in Greenland in order to later launch a surprise attack, perhaps in the summer of 2026. Trump’s promises cannot be trusted.
Donald Trump announced at the Davos meeting that the US and NATO, after talks with Secretary General Mark Rutte, have developed a framework for a future agreement on Greenland and the Arctic. There is no final agreement yet, but further negotiations are underway. Denmark has said no to US demands for territorial takeover, but the discussions have led to Trump refraining from military action for the time being, while Denmark and NATO are strengthening preparedness in Greenland.
The US wants Greenland to be included in the planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system and participate in cooperation on mineral extraction. According to information in the US media, compromises are being discussed in which the US could have a military presence in limited areas and influence over investments in Greenlandic natural resources to counter Russian and Chinese influence.
At the same time, threats of additional US tariffs were withdrawn after Denmark received support from several European countries, including Sweden, Norway, Germany and France. Sweden’s Foreign Minister welcomed the announcement and emphasized that joint action within NATO had yielded results. US stock markets rose following the news.
By Ingemar Lindmark