Washington, United States. U.S. President Donald Trump linked his drive to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, as tensions over the island raised the risk of renewed trade conflict with Europe. He declined to say whether he would use force to seize Greenland, while reiterating tariff threats against European nations.
Greenland dispute and tariff threats
Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he would not say whether he would use force to seize Greenland. He reiterated his threat to impose tariffs on European nations if a deal is not reached.
Trump has intensified his push to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from Denmark, a fellow NATO member, prompting the European Union to weigh countermeasures.
Concerns for NATO and market impact
The dispute threatens to disrupt the NATO alliance, which has underpinned Western security for decades and was already under strain over the war in Ukraine and Trump’s refusal to protect allies unless they increase defence spending.
Trump’s tariff threat has unsettled European industry and sent shockwaves through financial markets. Investors have cited fears of a return to the volatility of the 2025 trade war, which eased only after tariff agreements were reached in the middle of the year.
Message to Norway’s prime minister
In a text message on Sunday to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Trump said: “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 United States of America.”
Norway’s government released the messages on Monday. Stoere had sent an initial message with Finnish President Alexander Stubb calling for de-escalation of tensions, prompting a response from Trump less than half an hour later.
2025 Nobel Peace Prize decision
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, not Trump.
How do you think the Greenland dispute could affect relations between the United States and Europe?
