Trump will make Greenland 'offer it can't refuse' warns lawmaker

A Danish lawmaker has suggested that the United States could eventually present Greenland with an offer so generous that it would be difficult to turn down though he stressed that the final decision would rest with the people of Greenland themselves.

Hendrik Dahl, a Danish Member of the European Parliament, shared his view during an interview on Times Radio. He said he believes Denmark and Greenland may one day face a proposal from Washington that fundamentally reshapes the island’s future. According to Dahl, such an offer could involve Greenland becoming fully independent, backed by substantial financial incentives and long-term economic support from the United States.

He emphasized that Greenlanders already have the legal right to choose their own path. Under Denmark’s Home Rule Act and constitutional framework, Greenland can leave its current arrangement if its population votes to do so. In other words, any change in status would ultimately be decided democratically by the island’s residents, not imposed from the outside.

These comments come amid renewed interest from President Donald Trump in Greenland since returning to the White House. During a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the administration is actively discussing ways to gain control of the Arctic territory. She noted that American presidents have viewed Greenland as strategically important since the 19th century, particularly in terms of national security.

Leavitt explained that the administration sees Greenland as a key location for countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. She added that President Trump has been unusually direct about believing that acquiring Greenland would serve U.S. interests in the region.

The idea itself is far from new. The first formal U.S. interest in acquiring Greenland dates back to 1867. At the time, Secretary of State William H. Seward best known for negotiating the Alaska Purchase from Russia considered the acquisition of Greenland and Iceland to be strategically worthwhile. Robert J. Walker, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary involved in the Alaska deal, also strongly supported the idea.

Walker argued that Greenland’s value was both political and commercial. He highlighted its long, rugged coastline, deep fjords, and sheltered bays, pointing out that these features offered vast fishing opportunities and strategic maritime advantages unmatched by most other regions.

More recently, tensions escalated after comments from the White House suggested that military options had not been completely ruled out. Leavitt stated that President Trump views Greenland as a national security priority and that a range of strategies are being considered, including the potential use of military force if deemed necessary.

However, European officials have sought to calm fears of an armed takeover. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot revealed that he had spoken directly with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reassured him that an invasion of Greenland was not under consideration. Barrot said Rubio made it clear that military action was not the approach the United States intended to take.

As debate continues, one point remains central: Greenland’s future cannot be decided without Greenlanders themselves. Whether through independence, continued ties with Denmark, or a new relationship with the United States, any major shift would require the clear consent of the people who live there.