Trump wants to 'buy' every Greenlander's loyalty? All about America's lucrative cash plan and what it could cost US

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• US discussed offering cash payments to Greenlanders to support independence
• Greenland PM and European leaders reject US claims and annexation talk
• Most Greenlanders favor independence but oppose joining the US

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The United States has quietly discussed offering direct cash payments to Greenlanders as part of an effort to persuade the Arctic island to break away from Denmark and potentially align with Washington. The idea has reignited global debate over whether money and strategic interests can override sovereignty, identity and public will.

What is the US proposal?

US officials, including White House aides, have discussed lump-sum payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person for Greenland’s roughly 57,000 residents. While no formal plan has been finalised, the discussions suggest Washington is exploring ways to directly incentivise Greenlanders to support independence from Denmark.

At the upper end of the estimates, a $100,000 payout per person would cost the US close to $6 billion. That figure would represent only an initial expense, not the long-term economic commitments that would follow any separation from Denmark.

What would it cost the US in the long run?

Beyond one-time cash payments, acquiring Greenland would come with high recurring costs. Denmark currently provides substantial annual financial support to Greenland to sustain public services and economic stability. Any US-backed arrangement would likely require Washington to replace or exceed this support.

Additional costs would include infrastructure investment, defence spending, public administration, healthcare and education, especially given Greenland’s harsh climate and sparse population. Analysts say the long-term bill could far exceed the headline payout figure.

Why does the US want Greenland?

President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital for US national security. The island’s strategic location in the Arctic, its proximity to key shipping routes and its vast reserves of rare earth minerals critical for advanced military technologies have made it increasingly important amid rising competition with China and Russia.

Trump has also framed Greenland as part of a broader push to strengthen US influence across the Western Hemisphere.

Will Greenlanders agree?

While surveys indicate that a majority of Greenlanders favour eventual independence from Denmark, polls also show strong resistance to becoming part of the United States, according to Reuters. Economic uncertainty, cultural identity, language preservation and political autonomy remain major concerns.

Many Greenlanders view cash payments as transactional and potentially disrespectful, given the island’s long-standing debate over self-determination on its own terms. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has outright rejected annexation talk, saying, added that Greenland is not for sale.

Could a Compact of Free Association work?

One option under discussion is a Compact of Free Association, similar to agreements the US has with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Under such arrangements, the US provides defence and essential services in exchange for military access and strategic cooperation.

However, Reuters reported that such agreements have only been signed with independent states. Greenland would first need to formally separate from Denmark, a step its political leadership has so far avoided due to economic risks.

Why the plan faces resistance

European leaders, including Denmark, France, Germany and the UK, have firmly rejected US claims over Greenland, stressing that only Greenland and Denmark can decide the island’s future. As NATO allies, Denmark and the US are also bound by mutual defence obligations, complicating any aggressive approach.

Even within Greenland, enthusiasm for independence does not automatically translate into support for closer ties with Washington. Surveys cited by Reuters show that while Greenlanders are open to breaking from Denmark, most do not want to become part of the US.

*With agency inputs