According to at least four close sources, U.S. officials are discussing the idea of paying Greenlanders a lump sum to encourage the Danish self-governing territory to separate and join the United States. The figures mentioned range from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, though details, methods, and conditions remain unclear.
Insiders revealed that senior U.S. officials and White House advisers are deliberating on ways to take control of Greenland island. One of the plans considered is to pay a cash lump sum directly to all 57,000 Greenland residents.
Reports indicate the amounts discussed range from $10,000 up to $100,000 (approximately 3.4 million baht) per person. At the highest level, the U.S. would need to allocate nearly $6 billion (around 200 billion baht) to win the islanders’ support to vote for separation from Denmark and to enter into a "Compact of Free Association" (COFA) agreement with the U.S., similar to arrangements with Micronesia or Palau.
This effort intensified after U.S. forces succeeded in capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro last weekend. The White House wants to leverage this momentum to immediately advance other geopolitical goals of President Donald Trump. Trump emphasized Greenland’s paramount importance for national security due to its rich rare minerals vital to the military and its strategic location in the Western Hemisphere.
However, the plan is strongly opposed by both Denmark and Greenland. Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, posted on his personal Facebook page, "Enough... Stop dreaming about annexing our territory."
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement supporting Denmark, stating only Greenlanders and Danes have the right to decide on this matter.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Denmark's foreign minister next week in Washington for official discussions on this issue. While the White House has not ruled out military options if necessary, it insists diplomatic means or "buying" are the preferred approaches.
Although polls show most Greenlanders desire independence from Denmark, they remain concerned about their economic status without Danish financial support. Importantly, most surveys clearly indicate that Greenlanders "do not want" to become part of the United States.
/sourceReuters