Oslo/Washington, Jan 19 — US President Donald Trump told Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that he no longer felt “obligated to think purely of peace” after not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, a message that has intensified tensions between Washington and its European allies amid a growing dispute over Greenland.
Støre said on Monday that he had received a message from Trump addressing rising tensions over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. The contents of the message were first reported by PBS.
In the message, Trump reportedly said that because Norway “decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize,” he could now “think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” while adding that peace would “always be predominant.”
The message concluded with the assertion: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland,” according to PBS, which said the text was circulated among several European ambassadors in Washington.
The remarks come as Trump has stepped up pressure on European countries backing Denmark and Greenland, including announcing a 10 per cent import tax on goods from eight nations, among them Norway, starting in February.
The tariff threat drew sharp criticism from European governments. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, however, sought to de-escalate the situation, saying he did not believe the United States would take military action to seize Greenland.
“I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,” Starmer said, while calling the tariff threat “completely wrong” and warning that a trade war would benefit no one.
Støre confirmed receiving a text from Trump but declined to disclose its contents. He said the message was a reply to an earlier communication sent jointly with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in which they opposed the tariff announcement, urged de-escalation, and proposed a phone conversation among the three leaders.
“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” Støre said.
Addressing Trump’s reference to the Nobel Peace Prize, Støre said he had explained to the US president that the award is decided by an independent Nobel Committee, not the Norwegian government.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, whose members are appointed by parliament, awarded last year’s Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Trump has openly expressed interest in the prize and last week accepted Machado’s Nobel medal, saying he intended to keep it, though the committee said the prize cannot be transferred or shared.
Tensions have also spilled over into Greenland, where thousands of residents marched over the weekend to protest any attempt to take over the island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said tariff threats would not alter their position.
“We will not be pressured,” Nielsen wrote on Facebook. “We stand firm on dialogue, respect, and international law.”
European officials said troop deployments to Greenland cited by Trump as justification for tariffs were symbolic and related to Arctic security training, partly in response to concerns about Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
Six of the eight countries targeted by the tariffs are members of the European Union. European Council President Antonio Costa said EU leaders were prepared to defend the bloc against “any form of coercion” and indicated a summit would be convened later this week.
Read more |Trump Announces 10% Tariff on Eight European Nations Over Greenland Dispute
Britain, which is no longer an EU member, said it does not plan retaliatory tariffs. “My focus is on making sure we don’t get to that stage,” Starmer said.
Denmark’s defence minister and Greenland’s foreign minister are expected to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels later on Monday, a meeting scheduled prior to the latest escalation.
READ MORE | Why Greenland Matters to Trump