US officials have reportedly discussed offering direct cash payments to residents of Greenland as part of internal discussions aimed at encouraging the Arctic territory to separate from Denmark and potentially align more closely with the United States.
The proposal, which has drawn international attention, reflects how far Washington is considering going to secure strategic influence over the island.
According to sources, White House aides and national security officials have discussed lump-sum payments ranging from $10,000 to $1,00,000 per person to Greenland’s roughly 57,000 inhabitants, potentially costing up to nearly $6 billion at the higher end. However, no formal figures or detailed plans have been finalised.
Although touted as a financial incentive for Greenlanders to break with Danish sovereignty, the idea has met firm rejection from officials in both Copenhagen and Nuuk, who insist that Greenland is not for sale and its future should be decided internally.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens‑Frederik Nielsen, sharply criticised the discussions on social media, calling proposals for acquisition “fantasies about annexation.”
European leaders have also expressed concern, issuing a joint statement affirming that decisions about Greenland’s future belong to Greenland and Denmark alone, and urging that no external pressure be applied.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the idea is under active review, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to raise the issue with his Danish counterpart in upcoming talks in Washington.
The debate follows US President Donald Trump’s renewed emphasis on Greenland’s strategic value, particularly its mineral resources and Arctic location.
Critics worry that the discussions could appear transactional and undermine Greenlanders’ long‑held aspirations for genuine independence, noting that polls show resistance among residents to becoming part of the US even if Greenland were to pursue autonomy.
Among the other options under active consideration is a Compact of Free Association, a framework seen in places like Micronesia, under which the US could provide defence and services in exchange for strategic access—contingent on Greenland first gaining independence from Denmark.
Despite the administration’s strategic motivations, the prospect of using financial incentives to influence geopolitical alignment has triggered diplomatic resistance in Europe and sparked debate over territorial sovereignty and foreign influence in the Arctic.
