US might pay up to $100,000 to every Greenlander to break them from Denmark

US officials have held internal discussions on offering direct cash payments to residents of Greenland as part of an extraordinary effort to persuade the Arctic island to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Citing four people with knowledge of the deliberations, Reuters reported that figures ranging from $10,000 to as much as $100,000 per person have been discussed by US officials, including aides at the White House.

While no final proposal has been approved and the logistics remain unclear, the talks reflect the seriousness with which Washington is exploring unconventional options to gain control over the strategically vital island.

Greenland, home to roughly 57,000 people, is an autonomous Danish territory with control over most domestic affairs but remains under Copenhagen’s sovereignty.

Authorities in both Nuuk and Copenhagen have repeatedly stressed that Greenland is not for sale, even as debates over eventual independence continue within the island.

The reported cash-payment idea is said to be one among several scenarios under discussion, alongside economic incentives and, more controversially, potential military options.

Critics within and outside the US administration have warned that directly paying residents could appear deeply transactional and disrespectful to Greenlanders, many of whom already receive substantial financial support from Denmark.

Tensions escalated further after Denmark’s defence ministry reiterated that its armed forces are authorised to respond immediately to any invasion of Greenland, under long-standing rules of engagement dating back to 1952.

The statement came amid renewed rhetoric from former US President Donald Trump, who has revived his long-standing push for US control of Greenland, citing national security and access to critical minerals.

“Enough is enough. No more fantasies about annexation,” Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on social media, responding to Trump’s latest remarks that military force remained an option.

Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is crucial to US strategic interests in the Arctic, claiming Denmark is ill-equipped to defend or develop the region.

While the White House has not officially commented on the reported cash-payment discussions, the revelations underscore how Greenland has once again emerged as a flashpoint in global geopolitics.