Norway’s prime minister said on Monday (19 January) he had received a message from US President Donald Trump warning of rising tensions over Greenland, in which the US leader suggested he no longer felt obliged to think “purely about peace” after failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The message to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, first reported by PBS, comes as Washington’s standoff with European allies deepens over Trump’s repeated threats to seize control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark.
The threat of tariffs increases the pressure
In an effort to get European countries backing Denmark and Greenland into talks, Trump on Saturday announced a 10% import tax, due to take effect in February, on goods from eight countries, including Norway.
The move drew sharp criticism across Europe. However, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tried to cool the tension, saying he did not believe the crisis would escalate into military action.
“I think it can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,” Starmer said on Monday.
Trump’s message and reference to the Nobel Prize
PBS reported that Trump’s Store message included a pointed reference to the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Since your country has decided not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping 8 PLUS wars, I no longer feel obligated to think purely about peace,” Trump wrote, according to PBS.
“The world is not safe unless we have full and complete control over Greenland.”
PBS reported that the message was passed on to several European ambassadors in Washington.
Store confirmed receipt of the message from Trump but declined to disclose its contents. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Norway supports Denmark and Greenland
Støore said Trump’s message was in response to an earlier message sent jointly by him and Finnish President Alexander Stubb opposing the tariff announcement and calling for de-escalation and a phone conversation between the leaders.
“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark in this matter,” Store said.
On the question of the Nobel Prize, he added: “Regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, I have made it clear, including to President Trump, what is well known – the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee, not by the Norwegian government.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee operates independently, its members appointed by the parliament.
Greenlandic protests and a firm stance
The tension spilled over into the streets. Thousands of Greenlanders protested over the weekend against any attempt to take over the island.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the tariff threats would not change their position.
“We will not be pressured,” Nielsen wrote on Facebook. “We stand firmly on dialogue, respect and international law.”
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Strained relations between the US and Europe
The latest episode adds to already strained US-European relations over Ukraine, trade disputes, defense spending and migration policy.
Trump suggested the tariffs were in retaliation for the recent deployment of token numbers of European troops to Greenland — deployments that European governments say were planned Arctic security exercises linked to concerns about Russia and China.
Starmer called Trump’s tariff threat “completely wrong” and warned against escalation.
“There is no interest in a trade war,” he said. “Being pragmatic does not mean being passive, and partnership does not mean abandoning principles.”
The EU is considering a response
Six of the eight countries targeted by the tariffs are members of the European Union. European Council President António Costa said the bloc’s leaders had expressed a “willingness to resist any form of coercion” and was expected to convene a summit later this week.
Britain, which is no longer part of the EU, has no plans yet to impose retaliatory tariffs.
“My aim is to make sure we don’t get to that stage,” Starmer said.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s defense minister and Greenland’s foreign minister are due to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Monday – a meeting scheduled before the latest escalation.
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