Trump’s ‘I’m Not Thinking ‘Purely of Peace’ in Greenland Push, Sparks Global Backlash

U.S. President, Donald Trump has triggered renewed diplomatic tensions between the United States and its European allies after declaring that he is no longer thinking “purely of peace” as he presses his long-standing push for U.S. control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

According to European officials, Trump made the remark in private messages to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, linking his hardened stance on Greenland to frustration over not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump reportedly told the Norwegian leader that, having been overlooked for the prize, he no longer felt obligated to frame all his foreign policy positions strictly around peace, even though peace would “remain predominant” in his thinking. The comments have alarmed European leaders, who see them as an escalation of Trump’s pressure campaign over Greenland. Denmark has repeatedly rejected any suggestion that the island is for sale, while Greenland’s own leaders have stressed their right to self-determination. Danish officials reiterated this week that Greenland “belongs to the Greenlandic people” and that its status is not open to negotiation. Trump has long argued that Greenland is strategically vital to U.S. national security, citing its location in the Arctic and the growing influence of Russia and China in the region. He has warned that Denmark lacks the capacity to adequately defend the territory and has suggested that U.S. control would enhance global security. Critics, however, describe the argument as exaggerated and destabilising for NATO unity. The controversy has also taken on an economic dimension. European Union officials say they are preparing retaliatory trade measures in response to Trump’s threats of new tariffs on European goods if Denmark and its allies refuse to engage in talks over Greenland. Diplomats warn that such steps could trigger one of the most serious transatlantic trade disputes in years. Norway’s prime minister has pushed back against Trump’s Nobel comments, stressing that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee and not by the Norwegian government. Analysts say the episode highlights a misunderstanding that has further strained relations between Washington and European capitals. Public reaction in Europe has been swift. Protests have been reported in Denmark and Greenland under slogans such as “Greenland is not for sale,” while several European leaders have accused Trump of using economic and political pressure to pursue territorial ambitions. NATO officials have also sought to calm tensions, insisting that alliance cooperation in the Arctic remains strong despite the rhetoric. With Trump expected to raise the issue again in upcoming international forums, observers say the Greenland dispute could have far-reaching consequences for U.S.–EU relations, Arctic geopolitics, and global trade, especially if the confrontational language continues.