Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated on Monday that he had received a message from US President Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon, in which Trump linked his renewed push to take control of Greenland to his frustration over not having been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In his response, the Norwegian Prime Minister said he made it explicitly clear that the Norwegian government has no involvement whatsoever in the selection of Nobel laureates. He emphasised that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded independently by the Nobel Committee and functions entirely outside the authority or influence of Norway’s political leadership.
“I have clearly explained, including to President Trump, what is widely known—that the Nobel Peace Prize is decided by an independent Nobel Committee and not by the Norwegian government,” Støre said in an official statement, underlining the long-established separation between political institutions and the Nobel process.
Støre also revealed that Trump’s message arrived shortly after he, along with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, had contacted the US President to voice opposition to proposed American tariff increases targeting Norway, Finland, and several other European countries. These tariff threats were reportedly linked to the ongoing dispute over Greenland.
“I can confirm that this is a text message I received yesterday afternoon from President Trump,” Støre said. He explained that the message was sent in reply to a brief text he had earlier conveyed to Trump on behalf of both himself and the Finnish President. In that earlier message, the Nordic leaders had urged restraint, called for de-escalation, and suggested holding a direct phone conversation to address the mounting tensions related to tariffs and Greenland.
However, Trump’s reply took an unexpected direction. According to Støre, Trump attributed his hardened stance to what he described as unfair treatment over the Nobel Peace Prize. “Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace,” Trump wrote. He added that his focus would now be on what he considered “good and proper for the United States of America.”
Trump then turned his attention back to Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which he has repeatedly argued the United States should acquire. In his message, Trump claimed that Denmark lacks the capability to defend Greenland against major global powers such as Russia or China. He questioned Denmark’s historical claim over the territory and asserted that American control was necessary for broader global security.
“The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland,” Trump wrote, reinforcing his long-standing argument that US ownership of the territory is strategically essential.
Responding to these assertions, Støre said Trump had chosen to share the message with other NATO leaders as well. Reaffirming Norway’s official stance, the Prime Minister firmly rejected Trump’s claims and highlighted the importance of collective defence under the NATO framework.
“Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” Støre said. He further stressed that Norway backs NATO’s role in responsibly strengthening security and stability in the Arctic region through collective efforts rather than unilateral action.
The dispute has also taken on a strong economic dimension. On Saturday, Trump announced that the United States would impose 10 per cent tariffs starting February 1 on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland. He additionally warned that these tariffs could be increased to 25 per cent from June 1 if no agreement is reached on what he described as the “complete and total purchase” of Greenland.
Together, the exchange has underscored rising diplomatic, economic, and security tensions between the United States and its European allies, with Greenland emerging as a focal point in a broader transatlantic standoff.
