Trump's Greenland Controversy: Peace Prize, Tariffs, and Territorial Control

Mon Jan 19 2026 17:09:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a striking statement, US President Trump connects the Greenland dispute to his frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his belief that controlling Greenland is essential for national security.

US President Donald Trump has rekindled his demand for control of Greenland, linking it to his discontent over not winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He stated that he feels less obligated to prioritize peace after being overlooked for the award, claiming it compromises US security. He has threatened to impose tariffs on NATO allies who oppose his takeover plans, emphasizing the strategic significance of Greenland as a military asset against Russia and China. Both Norwegian and Danish leaders have expressed opposition to his claims.

US President Donald Trump has said he no longer feels obliged to think only of peace after he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, as he again repeated his demand for control of Greenland.

In a message to Norway's prime minister, Trump blamed the country for not giving him the prize.

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper' for the US, Trump said in the message obtained by US media.

The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland, he added.

CBS News, the BBC's US partner, confirmed the message and its contents.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said he had received the text message on Sunday in response to a text he and Finland's president Alexander Stubb had sent to Trump.

Støre noted an independent committee, not the government of Norway, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump has made no secret of his desire to be awarded the annual prize.

He has increasingly insisted that the US needs to take over Greenland for national security reasons. The sparsely-populated but resource-rich Arctic island is well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and for monitoring vessels in the region.

Trump has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight NATO allies if they oppose his takeover plan, with a possibility of raising it to 25% later. His justification for Greenland's control revolves around security issues, questioning Denmark's right of ownership over the territory.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said any decision about Greenland's future status belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone, calling Trump's tariff threats wrong. Meanwhile, NATO allies have increased their presence in the Arctic in light of these developments.