A bold cash-for-sovereignty proposal tied to Arctic security, rare earth minerals, and global power politics is triggering fierce resistance across Europe and Greenland.
US President Donald Trump is once again exploring controversial options to acquire Greenland, with reports indicating that the White House is considering direct financial incentives for the island’s residents. According to Reuters, senior US officials are discussing a plan that would offer payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to each of Greenland’s approximately 57,000 residents.
The proposal, if implemented, could cost the US government up to $6 billion. Officials familiar with the discussions say the core objective is to encourage Greenlanders to break away from Denmark and align themselves with the United States through a democratic and economic pathway.
President Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to American national security due to its strategic Arctic location and growing geopolitical competition. With Russia and China expanding their influence in the Arctic region, the United States views Greenland as a critical security and defense asset.
Beyond military considerations, Greenland’s vast deposits of rare earth minerals have intensified US interest. These minerals are essential for producing mobile phones, computers, electric vehicle batteries, and advanced defense technology. Washington hopes that securing access to Greenland’s resources could help break China’s current dominance over the global rare earth supply chain.
However, the proposal has triggered strong international backlash. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Friedrich Nielsen has firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale and that annexation fantasies must stop. European leaders have echoed this position.
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark issued a joint statement emphasizing that only the people of Greenland and Denmark have the right to decide the island’s future. Denmark has gone further, warning that any attempt by the United States to undermine Greenland’s sovereignty could severely damage transatlantic relations and even threaten the stability of NATO.
While diplomatic channels remain active, some reports suggest that the use of military pressure cannot be entirely ruled out, raising serious concerns about global security, international law, and the future balance of power in the Arctic.
