President Donald Trump said in a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Stoer that he no longer thinks “purely about peace” after losing out on the Nobel Peace Prize.
President Trump hints at shifting focus from peace over Greenland
President Donald Trump has declared that peace is not “purely” a priority after he was snubbed of the Nobel Peace Prize for defending tariffs on control of Greenland.
President Donald Trump sent a text message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Stoer on January 18 complaining about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize and saying he would no longer think “purely about peace” as a result. President Trump went on to claim that only “full and complete control of Greenland” by the United States can keep the world “safe.”
President Trump’s message was first reported by PBS journalist Nick Shiffrin in the X-Post and confirmed by Storer’s office to USA TODAY on January 19th. The Prime Minister’s Office also shared the message exchange between Store and Trump with USA TODAY.
President Trump’s text, sent at 4:15 p.m. Norwegian time, said: “Given the decision not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing eight wars plus, I no longer feel obligated to think purely about peace. Even though peace will always prevail, I can now think about what is good and appropriate for the United States of America.” (東部時間午前10時15分)
“I have done more for NATO than anyone else since its creation, and now NATO should do something for the United States. The world will not be safe unless we have full and complete control of Greenland,” he continued.
Trump’s message was in response to a text message sent less than 30 minutes later, at 3:48 p.m. local time, by Store on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, urging Trump to “de-escalate” on “Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine and tariff announcements.”
“You know where we stand on these issues, but we believe that we should all work to quell this issue and de-escalate tensions. There is a lot going on around us that requires us to come together,” Store wrote. “I’m offering to call you later today. Please let me know what tips you’d like.”
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. President Trump said the acquisition of the territory was essential to U.S. national security and “defending” the territory from Russia and China.
On January 17, Store pushed back against President Trump’s claim that the United States should control Greenland, saying:
“There is no threat between our allies. Norway’s position is firm. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Norway fully supports the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he wrote to X. “There is broad agreement within NATO about the need to strengthen security in the Arctic region, including Greenland.”
Meanwhile, President Trump announced on January 17 that he would impose a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland unless a “full and comprehensive purchase agreement for Greenland” is reached.
“Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said in a statement on January 17, adding that the EU “stands in full solidarity with the peoples of Denmark and Greenland.”
