US President Links Policy to Nobel Prize Snub, Escalates Greenland Dispute
U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday refused to rule out the use of military force to seize Greenland, as European nations intensify their response to the White House leader's tariff threats.

“No comment,” was the U.S. president's response when asked in an interview with NBC News if he could deploy the military to claim the semi-autonomous Danish territory. However, he affirmed he would follow through “100 percent” on his threat to impose tariffs on eight European countries that have opposed his bid for the Arctic island.

Nobel Prize Remarks Revealed in Diplomatic Exchange
In a weekend text message exchange, Trump told Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that he does not “feel the obligation to think purely about peace” since his country did not grant him the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nordic leader reported, disclosing a letter from the magnate. Støre clarified that the award is granted by an independent committee, not the government, and reiterated Norway's full support for Denmark, stating that “the island is part of its territory.”

Military and Alliance Tensions Rise
On his social media, Trump asserted that “the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been telling Denmark for 20 years to ‘move the Russian threat away from Greenland.’ Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. The time has come, and it will be done!”

Denmark announced the deployment of a “substantial increase” of its armed forces to the Arctic. Furthermore, Denmark and Greenland have requested a NATO mission to reinforce the island's defenses.

European Responses Vary Amid Threat of Trade War
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Trump's tariff threats but was cautious about announcing retaliatory measures. Unlike French President Emmanuel Macron, Merz declined to invoke European Union law to defend against economic coercion, the so-called “trade bazooka,” as a countermeasure.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of a trade war and called for calm debate to ensure the continuity of historic alliances.

US Official Dismisses Nobel Link, Cites Strategic Interests
For now, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated it “would be very unwise” for European countries to retaliate, during the first day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he explained that Trump wants to control the territory because he considers it a “strategic asset.” He emphasized: “we are not going to leave our hemispheric security to anyone.”

When asked about Trump's message to the Norwegian Prime Minister, in which he seemed to link his pressure on Greenland to not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Bessent responded: “I know nothing about the president's letter to Norway. I think it's complete nonsense that the president would do this for the award.”

Symbolic Protests Emerge
Red baseball caps parodying Trump's iconic MAGA hats have become a symbol of Danish and Greenlandic defiance. The hats read: “Make America Go Away,” a parody of Trump's slogan “Make America Great Again,” and have gained popularity on social media and at public protests, including a demonstration over the weekend in the frozen Danish capital.