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Trump pushes Greenland claim in private messages
Private text exchanges between Donald Trump and European leaders, released this week, reveal the former U.S. president's persistent focus on acquiring Greenland. The messages, shared by Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Støre and later posted by Trump on Truth Social, show Trump arguing that Denmark lacks the capacity to protect the territory from Russia or China.
Norway's appeal for de-escalation
On January 18, Støre reached out to Trump on behalf of himself and Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, urging cooperation on Greenland, Gaza, and Ukraine. The Norwegian leader emphasized the need for de-escalation, proposing a call to align positions. The exchange was disclosed following a BBC freedom of information request.
"Dear Mr. President, dear Donald - on the contact across the Atlantic - on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine - and your tariff announcement yesterday. You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate," Støre wrote.
Trump's response: NATO owes the U.S.
Trump replied within hours, linking his stance on Greenland to his frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He argued that Denmark's historical claim to the territory was weak, citing the lack of formal documentation. Trump also pressed NATO to reciprocate for his contributions to the alliance, stating that U.S. control of Greenland was essential for global security.
"Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway? There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago... The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland," Trump wrote.
Macron proposes Paris summit
French President Emmanuel Macron responded on January 19, attempting to redirect the conversation toward broader geopolitical cooperation. Macron suggested a G7 meeting in Paris after the Davos forum, with invitations extended to Ukrainian, Danish, Syrian, and Russian representatives. He also proposed a private dinner with Trump before his return to the U.S.
"My friend, we are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland," Macron wrote.
NATO chief's diplomatic outreach
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte weighed in early on January 20, praising Trump's recent actions in Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine. Rutte expressed eagerness to address the Greenland issue in person, signaling a willingness to engage despite the contentious nature of the discussion.
"Mr. President, dear Donald - what you accomplished in Syria today is incredible. I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland," Rutte wrote.
Davos forum looms
Trump is expected to reiterate his position on Greenland during this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The leaked exchanges have drawn attention to the former president's unorthodox diplomatic approach, particularly his willingness to challenge long-standing territorial agreements.
