US President Donald Trump has stated he no longer prioritizes peace efforts after not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize last year, and has demanded “Complete and Total Control of Greenland” from Denmark, threatening tariffs on NATO allies who oppose the move.
Trump’s Response to Nobel Snub
Trump blamed Norway for the decision not to award him the prize, in a message to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Støre responded by clarifying that an independent committee, not the Norwegian government, selects the recipient, with the 2023 prize going to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Demand for Greenland Control and NATO Tensions
Alongside his grievance over the Nobel Prize, Trump insisted the US needs “Complete and Total Control of Greenland,” a semi-autonomous Danish territory. When asked if he would use force to seize the territory, he declined to comment.
Denmark, a NATO member, warned that US military action in Greenland would effectively end the alliance, which operates on the principle of collective defense. Several European members have demonstrated support for Denmark, sending a small contingent of troops to Greenland as a symbolic gesture.
Tariff Threats and European Response
Trump responded to this deployment by announcing a 10% tariff on goods from eight NATO allies – including the UK – starting February 1st, escalating to 25% by June if they oppose his proposed takeover of Greenland.
Joint Appeal for De-escalation
In light of these escalating tensions, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb jointly urged Trump to de-escalate the situation, stating, “we all should work to take this down and de-escalate – so much is happening around us where we need to stand together.”
Trump’s Justification and NATO Criticism
Trump replied to Støre and Stubb, asserting that his decision to shift focus from peace was influenced by not receiving the Nobel Prize. He claimed, “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.”
He further argued that Denmark cannot adequately defend Greenland from Russia or China, questioning their claim to ownership, stating, “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.”
Trump also asserted he has done more for NATO than anyone since its founding and believes the alliance should now prioritize US interests. He reiterated, “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
International Reactions
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlandic people and Denmark alone, and criticized the use of tariffs against allies as “wrong.”
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. Denmark and Greenland, along with NATO allies, have agreed to increase military presence and exercises in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions, with several European states sending personnel to Greenland on a reconnaissance mission.
Trump’s Claims and Previous Conflicts
Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire for a Nobel Peace Prize and claimed Norway “totally controls” the award process despite official statements to the contrary. He maintains he deserves the prize for ending eight wars since taking office, including conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo. However, BBC Verify has examined these claims, finding some conflicts were short-lived or based on pre-existing tensions, and fighting has continued in some cases, such as between Rwanda and the DRC.
Following US forces removing Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro from Caracas, Trump did not endorse Machado as the country’s next leader, instead backing Maduro’s vice-president as interim head of government. Machado recently met with Trump at the White House and gave him her Nobel Peace Prize medal, despite the Nobel Foundation stating the award cannot be transferred.
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