Donald Trump asserted that the time has come to eliminate the Russian threat to Greenland: “It will be done.”

 

president cited NATO reports on the need for security measures in what is now Danish territory. He also exchanged letters with the Norwegian prime minister, in which they discussed wars and the Nobel Peace Prize.

The president cited NATO reports on the need for security measures in what is now Danish territory. He also exchanged letters with the Norwegian prime minister, in which he also discussed wars and the Nobel Peace Prize.

US President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on Greenland, stating that the time has come to eliminate the “Russian threat” in that territory, criticizing Denmark's handling of the situation and proposing measures to pressure European allies. “For 20 years, NATO has told Denmark that it must eliminate the Russian threat from Greenland. Sadly, Denmark has not been able to do so. The time has come, and it will be done,” Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, in a new episode of diplomatic tensions involving NATO, the European Union, and several Nordic governments.

In recent weeks, Trump has insisted that the United States must take control of the island, arguing that it is the only way to prevent a potential occupation by China or Russia. The president has declared that this objective will be achieved “by hook or by crook.” As part of his strategy, on Saturday he threatened to impose 10% tariffs starting February 1 on goods from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, and Denmark. All of these NATO members have sent troops to Greenland, and according to Trump, the measure is intended to force their support for US annexation plans. The president warned that the tariffs could increase to 25% in June if there is no change in position.

Trump's statements provoked an immediate reaction from the European Union. The President of the European Council, António Costa, announced on Sunday that he will convene an extraordinary meeting of member states “in the coming days” to coordinate the bloc's response to the tariffs announced by Washington.

Meanwhile, Trump sent a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, linking his stance on Greenland to Norway's decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize. “Dear Jonas: Given that your country decided not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping eight wars, and more, I no longer feel obligated to think solely about peace, although it will always be predominant, but I can now think about what is good and appropriate for the United States,” Trump wrote, according to a message leaked by PBS News correspondent Nick Schifrin. The US president maintained that the refusal to award him the prize allows him to take a stronger stand on national interests.

El primer ministro de Noruega, Jonas Gahr Støre, recibió una carta de Trump (REUTERS/ARCHIVO)

Trump justified his pressure on Greenland by arguing that Denmark lacks “property rights” to the island and that the history of Danish ships arriving does not constitute a legitimate basis. “There are no written documents, only the fact that a ship arrived there hundreds of years ago, but we also sent ships,” he declared on his social network.

Speaking to the Norwegian newspaper VG, Støre confirmed receiving a text message from Trump and clarified that it was a response to a previous message sent by him and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, in which they expressed their concern about the proposed tariffs. Støre explained that in their message they expressed the need to de-escalate the confrontation and requested a joint phone call. According to the Norwegian Prime Minister, Trump decided to share his response with other NATO leaders.

Støre reiterated that for Norway, Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that support for that country is “full.” He added that Norway supports NATO strengthening its efforts to promote security and stability in the Arctic. Regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, he noted that its awarding is the responsibility of an independent committee and not the Norwegian government.

Trump aseguró que llegó el momento de eliminar la amenaza rusa sobre Groenlandia (REUTERS/ARCHIVO)

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado “for her tireless work in promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people.” On January 15, during a meeting at the White House, Machado symbolically presented her medal to Trump in recognition of the US operation that ousted Nicolás Maduro earlier that month, although it was noted from Oslo that the award is non-transferable.