Donald Trump links his desire to control Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, citing a departure from a peace-focused approach.
This rhetoric sparks a major diplomatic escalation with Norway and the European Union, as they view it as a worrying personalization of American foreign policy.
Greenland becomes a symbol of a broader transatlantic crisis, mixing trade tensions, military stakes, and questioning of Western alliances.
Donald Trump has crossed a new rhetorical threshold in the Greenland issue. The American president explicitly tied his desire to seize control of the Arctic territory to his failure to secure the Nobel Peace Prize, in a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. A spectacular move that deepens the diplomatic crisis between Washington and several European capitals.
In this message, Trump explains that, since Norway did not support his Nobel candidacy, he no longer feels obligated to “think purely about peace“. According to him, the interests of the United States must now take precedence, adding a significant statement: “The world is not safe until we have complete and total control of Greenland“.
An escalating verbal showdown with very real consequences
The letter was sent in response to a protest message from Støre, who opposed the tariff threats made by Washington against Norway and other European countries that participated in military exercises in Greenland. The Norwegian Prime Minister confirmed the authenticity of the message, initially revealed by American media, and indicated he had requested an urgent phone call to defuse the situation.
This statement marks a clear break with diplomatic norms. Explicitly linking a major geopolitical ambition to personal frustration over the Nobel Peace Prize is seen in Brussels and Nordic capitals as an alarming signal, revealing an extreme personalization of American foreign policy.
Greenland at the heart of a transatlantic crisis
For several weeks, Trump has emphasized the vital strategic importance of Greenland for global security. He claims that Denmark would be unable to protect the territory from Russia or China and even questions the historical legitimacy of Danish sovereignty, despite longstanding treaties recognized by Washington itself.
These statements have triggered a strong reaction from the European Union, which is preparing massive economic retaliatory measures. The prospect of a major trade confrontation now adds to a significant political and military crisis, just as the West tries to maintain a façade of unity on other strategic issues.
The Nobel Prize as a political catalyst
The context makes the episode even more sensitive. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado, a figure of the Venezuelan opposition, who recently presented her medal to Trump during a ceremony at the White House. Despite this symbolic gesture, the American president has never hidden his bitterness at not being personally rewarded, as he claims credit for ending several conflicts since returning to power.
In Norway, authorities remind that the Nobel Committee is independent of the government, a point that has been a source of tension in the past, particularly when awarding the prize to political dissidents.
A climate of lasting defiance
Facing this new development, Oslo calls for de-escalation and direct dialogue. However, behind the scenes, many European diplomats believe the issue runs deeper. The Greenland crisis is no longer just a territorial or strategic dispute. It has become a symbol of fundamental misalignment between Trump’s United States and its historic allies.
In this context, the question is no longer whether Washington will follow through on its threats, but how far Europe is willing to go to defend its sovereignty and credibility against an increasingly unpredictable partner.
