Washington D.C. – In a renewed push for control of the strategically significant Arctic territory,the Trump administration reportedly considered offering Greenlandic residents direct payments of up to $100,000 each to encourage separation from Denmark and accession to the United States. The proposal, revealed by sources speaking to Reuters on January 9, 2026, underscores the ongoing U.S. interest in Greenland‘s vast natural resources and escalating geopolitical competition in the region-a pursuit that follows closely on the heels of a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Despite past rejections, the Trump administration continues to explore unconventional tactics to acquire the island, a prospect met with resistance from both Danish and Greenlandic authorities.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly discussed offering payments of up to $100,000 (Rp 1.6 billion) to each resident of Greenland, in an effort to persuade them to support separating from Denmark and joining the United States. The potential move, which has sparked controversy, highlights the strategic importance of the Arctic region and the U.S.’s growing interest in its resources and geopolitical positioning.
Four sources familiar with the matter revealed the discussions to Reuters on Friday, January 9, 2026.
While the exact amount and logistics of any potential payments remain unclear, two of the sources stated that U.S. officials, including those within the White House, have considered figures ranging from $10,000 (Rp 168.3 million) to $100,000 (Rp 1.6 billion) per person. The funds would be distributed as a lump sum.
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Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has a population of approximately 57,000 people. A payment of $100,000 (Rp 1.6 billion) per resident would amount to a total outlay of nearly $6 billion (Rp 101 trillion) from the U.S.
The idea of direct payments to Greenland’s population represents one potential avenue for the U.S. to acquire the strategically located island. However, authorities in both Denmark and Greenland have consistently maintained that the territory is not for sale.
This tactic is among several plans being discussed within the White House to acquire Greenland, including potential military applications. The development could strain relations between Washington and Copenhagen.
However, such an approach risks appearing overly transactional and potentially disrespectful to the Greenlandic people, who have long debated their own independence and economic reliance on Denmark.
“Enough is enough… No more fantasies about annexation,” Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated in a Facebook post on Sunday, January 4, following Trump’s renewed assertions that the U.S. should acquire Greenland.
Trump has long argued that the U.S. needs to control Greenland due to its mineral wealth, which is crucial for advanced military applications. He has also stated that the Western Hemisphere should largely fall under Washington’s geopolitical influence.
Internal discussions regarding ways to acquire Greenland have been ongoing among Trump’s advisors since before his second term, but urgency increased following the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in a daring military operation on January 3.
One source cited by Reuters indicated that White House aides are eager to capitalize on the momentum from the Maduro operation to achieve other long-held geopolitical goals of Trump’s.
Despite this, polling data suggests that while a majority of Greenlandic residents are open to independence from Denmark, they do not desire to become part of the United States.
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