US President Donald Trump wants “complete and total” control of Greenland. Now he’s linked his desire to take the piece of Danish territory to not getting the Nobel Peace Prize late last year.
Trump made the comments in a lengthy text message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre over the weekend, declaring that, despite “having stopped 8 wars PLUS,” he was still overlooked for the honour and that he’s no longer feeling particularly obligated to think about peace.
The Norwegian government released the message exchange to the media under the country’s freedom of information laws.
The texting started when Prime Minister Støre offered to arrange a discussion to help de-escalate tensions.
But Trump was having none of it. Not from an elected official for the country that snubbed him for the peace honour.
Trump wrote in his response:
“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 United States of America.”
The lengthy message continued (shared here unedited): “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”
Trump has been threatening tariffs on European Nato allies if he is unable to get Greenland, declaring the US will impose 10 per cent tariffs from February and 25% from June.
He also declared “no comment” when asked by NBC News whether he would use military force to take the territory and whether he would “100 per cent” follow through on new tariffs against European nations.
Støre told a press conference in response to the text that he has explained to Trump many times that the Nobel Peace Prize is not issued by the Norwegian government.
“But I do believe that if leaders are always focused on the Peace Prize, that’s not a bad thing. It means they’re interested in doing something that qualifies them for an award that’s about peace. But it’s not something I make decisions about, and that needs to be emphasised.”
Støre added he believes it’s “unacceptable to threaten allies” and that he has spent the weekend talking with European colleagues about how to respond to the situation.