The Trump administration is considering direct financial payments to residents of Greenland as part of a strategy aimed at persuading the island to separate from Denmark and align with the United States, according to US officials cited in an exclusive Reuters report.
According to the report, successive payments of up to $100,000 per person are being discussed, although exact amounts and implementation details remain unclear. White House officials, including advisers to US President Donald Trump, have indicated that potential payments could range between $10,000 and $100,000 per individual.
A Controversial Strategy to “Buy” Greenland
The proposal offers a possible explanation of how the United States might attempt to “purchase” Greenland, an island with a population of approximately 57,000 people, despite firm refusals from authorities in Copenhagen and Nuuk, who have repeatedly stated that Greenland is not for sale.
The Reuters report notes that financial incentives would be combined with broader diplomatic and military considerations, as Washington evaluates multiple pathways to achieve control or influence over the strategically significant Arctic territory.
Strategic and Geopolitical Interests at Play
The plan reportedly forms part of a wider White House strategy that includes potential military and diplomatic actions, though direct payments could be seen as demeaning by a population that has long debated independence and economic dependence on Denmark.
The proposal follows renewed public statements by President Trump, who has reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland, despite strong backlash from European leaders.
Alternative Scenarios Under Review
In addition to direct payments, the US is reportedly examining the possibility of a Compact of Free Association (COFA) arrangement—similar to agreements Washington maintains with several small Pacific island nations—as an alternative means of expanding US influence.
For now, the issue remains open and under active consideration, as the Trump administration continues to weigh strategic, geopolitical, and economic interests in the Arctic region.
