What is known
According to Reuters, the Donald Trump administration is discussing a possibility of one-off payments to residents of Greenland — from $10,000 to $100,000 per person — to sway the islands away from Denmark toward greater integration with the United States or even to a separate status under American patronage. Greenland's population is about 57,000 people — at $100,000 per person the total could reach nearly $6 billion.
What mechanisms are being considered
Options include direct payments to influence public opinion or using an instrument similar to the Compact of Free Association (COFA), which the U.S. has concluded with several island states in the Pacific. COFA provides broad economic and military support in exchange for special terms for basing forces and preferential trade.
"Trump and his national security aides are considering what a potential purchase might look like"
— Caroline Leavitt, White House press secretary (quote via Reuters)
Why it matters: security, resources, precedent
The initiative goes beyond simple financial incentives. Greenland is a strategically important region: Arctic routes, proximity to North America, and potential mineral resources make it of interest to major powers. Analysts note that the U.S. may seek to secure a military presence or to prevent other actors' access to the region.
At the same time, this raises questions of international law and sovereignty. Direct payments to the population as a tool to buy loyalty create a dangerous precedent that undermines norms protecting territorial integrity and political independence.
What Greenlanders and international reactions are saying
Polls indicate that most Greenlanders want greater self-determination, but do not wish to automatically become part of the U.S. Copenhagen and official representatives of Greenland and Denmark have made clear that the issue is complex and cannot be resolved by force. Reuters reports that White House officials referred journalists to the press secretary and to Senator Marco Rubio, who plans to discuss the matter with a Danish colleague.
Chances of implementation and what's next
Practical implementation of such plans faces several barriers: Denmark's rights over the territory, the political will of Greenlanders themselves, and international consequences that could provoke diplomatic tension. Moreover, even a substantial financial offer is unlikely to replace questions of identity, economic interdependence, and political guarantees.
Conclusion
The initiative described by Reuters is not just about money: it is a test at the limits of geopolitical creativity that calls into question established norms of sovereignty. For Ukraine, this case is important as an example of how great powers may attempt to change the status of territories by unconventional means — an issue that requires attention from the international community and from allies.
Whether these diplomatic conversations will turn into concrete steps depends on Copenhagen's reaction, the position of Greenlanders, and Washington's pragmatic calculations. While attention is focused on headlines, the real work is happening behind the scenes — and for Europe and NATO this is another reason to clarify their own Arctic strategy.
