$100,000: Trump's price for Greenland citizens to sell their country

The Donald Trump administration in the United States is reportedly considering offering direct cash payments to residents of Greenland to persuade them to break away from Denmark and potentially align with the US, Reuters reported.

The move comes amid rising tensions after Denmark warned Washington that its soldiers would immediately open fire, without waiting for orders, if any foreign force attempted to invade Danish territory in the Arctic.

Citing sources familiar with internal White House discussions, Reuters said US officials have floated payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of about 57,000, has repeatedly said it is not for sale — a position firmly backed by authorities in both Copenhagen and Nuuk.

A transactional approach to acquiring Greenland

The proposal to directly pay Greenland’s residents offers a glimpse into how the US might attempt to effectively “buy” the island despite strong resistance from Denmark and Greenland’s leadership. However, the idea risks appearing overly transactional and even patronising to a population that has long debated its own independence and economic dependence on Denmark.

The cash-payment proposal is one of several options being discussed at the White House. These include the potential use of the US military, which officials say remains on the table, even as Washington claims it prefers diplomatic or financial routes to acquire the strategically important Arctic territory.

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Denmark’s shoot-first warning

The Reuters report followed remarks by Denmark’s defence ministry, which confirmed that a 1952 rule of engagement remains in force. The directive requires Danish soldiers to confront and attack invaders immediately, without waiting for instructions from senior commanders.

The clarification was issued after Danish newspaper Berlingske sought confirmation of the rule amid renewed US interest in Greenland.

The comments came as Trump once again revived his push to take control of the island, saying that “military force” remained one of the options under consideration.

“Enough is enough… No more fantasies about annexation,” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post after Trump reiterated that the US needed to acquire Greenland.

Trump’s long-standing fixation

Trump has consistently argued that Greenland is vital to US national security, pointing to its strategic location and mineral resources, which he says are crucial for advanced military applications. He has also said the Western Hemisphere should largely remain under Washington’s geopolitical influence.

“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark isn’t going to be able to do it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “It’s so strategic.”

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According to Reuters, internal discussions among Trump’s aides on how to secure Greenland have been underway since before he took office a year ago. However, the talks gained renewed urgency after the recent US operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

One source said White House aides were eager to build on the momentum from the Maduro operation to advance Trump’s other long-standing geopolitical objectives.

Payments under serious consideration

Sources familiar with the deliberations said the idea of lump-sum payments was not new but had taken on greater seriousness in recent days. Officials were reportedly considering higher payouts, including a $100,000-per-person proposal, which would amount to a total outlay of nearly $6 billion, roughly Rs 530–540 crore.

Several details remain unresolved, including how and when such payments would be distributed and what Greenlanders would be expected to provide in return.

Free association agreement floated

Another option being examined is a Compact of Free Association (COFA), an arrangement the US currently has with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.

Under such agreements, Washington typically provides key services such as defence and postal operations, while the US military enjoys broad freedom to operate and trade with the US remains largely duty-free.

COFA agreements have only been signed with independent nations, meaning Greenland would likely need to separate from Denmark for such a framework to apply. In theory, financial incentives could be used to encourage Greenlanders to vote for independence or to support a COFA arrangement following such a vote.

While opinion polls show that a majority of Greenlanders favour independence from Denmark, concerns about economic stability have so far prevented lawmakers from pushing for a referendum. Surveys also indicate that although many Greenlanders are open to independence, most do not want to become part of the US.