One that is unsettling the Arctic and taking hold across the Atlantic, the Trump administration is reportedly devising a radical new approach to its longstanding objective, which is to transfer Greenland to America. Instead of a mere land treaty, however, the new schemes are for a direct “hearts and minds” effort, funded in billions of dollars in cash.
On January 9, 2026, news came out that White House aides are talking about lump sums of somewhere between $10,000 and $100,000, or approximately ₹8.4 lakh to ₹84 lakh per inhabitant of Greenland. With a population of close to 57,000, the price tag of this "incentive package" would cost about $6 billion (₹50,000+ crore) which some say is a sweet deal for the world’s biggest, most mineral-rich island.
Why Greenland? National Security vs Resources
President Trump spoke in a different way than last week: in 2019 he called it a ‘big real estate deal’ and now he’s saying it is now ‘urgent national security.’ In its recent communications, the White House stressed several points: Missile Defense: Greenland is home to the Pituffik Space Base, which is a cornerstone of the United States' ballistic missile early safety network.
The Arctic Race
After melting the polar ice caps that the current state of affairs now means a new era can bring shipping routes open. President Trump is growing worried about Russian and Chinese ships in the region — stating, “Denmark isn’t going to be able to do it [secure the Arctic].”
Critical minerals
Greenland has 25 of 34 materials that are considered critical to advanced technology and military technology, possibly lessening the U.S. dependence on Chinese rare earth elements.
Global Pushback: “Not for Sale”
Copenhagen and Nuuk (a capital of Greenland) have answered with defiant defiance. Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, responded on social media to dispel the rumors, saying: “Enough is enough. No more delusions about annexation.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and a number of European leaders have also sounded alarms that should the U.S. attempt to annex a sovereign territory owned by a NATO ally, the annexation itself would likely be a sign that that NATO alliance is over.
Seven significant European states signed a historic declaration on Jan. 6, declaring that “Greenland belongs to its people.” The Legal and Diplomatic Road Ahead While the White House insists that “military involvement is always an option,” Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, is seeking a diplomatic path. He says he will visit diplomats from Denmark and Greenland in Washington next week.
A “soft” alternative in the conversation is a Compact of Free Association (COFA). Under this structure, Greenland would become independent of Denmark, but still come under a U.S.-defense umbrella in exchange for cash — much as the United States cooperates with countries in the Pacific like Palau and Micronesia.
The Internal Debate
U.S. lawmakers are divided over the proposed direct cash payments. Supporters, including Senator Rand Paul, argue that Greenland would be a “good purchase” just like Alaska or Louisiana, but critics say the “buying people” era is over and that it violates international principles of self-determination.
