President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Europe by linking his disputed push for U.S. control of Greenland to his frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a message sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump complained that Norway had denied him the prestigious award despite what he described as “stopping 8 wars PLUS.” He warned that, as a result, he no longer feels “obliged to think purely of peace,” though he added peace would “always be predominant.”
Trump went further, declaring that “the world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.” The statement tied his long-standing interest in the Arctic territory directly to U.S. national security, a claim that has alarmed European leaders.
Norway confirmed receipt of Trump’s message, with Støre criticizing the linkage of Greenland sovereignty to the Nobel Prize. Denmark, which oversees Greenland, rejected Trump’s demands outright, calling them “blackmail.”
European Union officials condemned Trump’s threats of punitive tariffs against countries opposing his Greenland ambitions, warning of retaliatory measures and raising fears of a renewed transatlantic trade war.
The controversy underscores Trump’s willingness to fuse personal grievances with geopolitical strategy. Analysts say the dispute could escalate into a landmark clash between Washington and its allies, testing the limits of diplomacy, trade, and territorial sovereignty.
