Washington, United States. Donald Trump told Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre that he no longer felt “obliged to think purely of peace,” in a letter that raised tensions with Europe over Greenland, PBS News reported on Monday.
Letter shared with European diplomats
PBS News said the letter to Støre was forwarded to multiple European ambassadors in Washington by National Security Council staff.
Comments on peace and the Nobel Peace Prize
In the letter, Trump wrote: “Dear Jonas – Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight 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 United States of America.”
Challenge to Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland
The letter questioned Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland. “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” Trump wrote.
“There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.”
NATO and control of Greenland
Trump wrote that he had “done more for NATO than any other person since its founding” and called for reciprocity, stating: “Now, NATO should do something for the United States.”
“The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland,” he wrote.
Støre response to tariff announcement
The letter emerged days after Støre said that “threats have no place” among allies, in response to Trump’s tariff announcement.
How do you think this letter could affect relations between the United States and European allies?
