Trump’s Greenland Ambition Could Cost the US $700 Billion, Sparks Global Unease
New Delhi: The United States could face a staggering price tag of up to $700 billion (around ₹58.1 lakh crore) if it pursues President Donald Trump’s long-standing ambition to acquire Greenland, according to cost estimates prepared by scholars and former US officials familiar with internal discussions.
The estimate, reported by NBC News, was developed as part of strategic planning around Trump’s goal of securing the massive Arctic island as a geopolitical buffer against rivals such as Russia and China. At the upper end, the cost would exceed half of the US Defence Department’s annual budget — a figure that has alarmed European governments and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Greenland Not for Sale, Say Denmark and Greenland
Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has firmly rejected any suggestion that it could be sold or forcibly acquired. Danish and Greenlandic leaders have repeatedly dismissed Trump’s claims that the US would obtain Greenland “one way or the other.”
Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt reiterated the position upon arriving in Washington this week.
“Greenland does not want to be owned by, governed by or part of the United States,” she said. “We choose the Greenland we know today — as part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Greenland’s Minister for Business and Mineral Resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, described growing anxiety among citizens as Trump’s rhetoric intensified. She said the pressure has been so severe that many Greenlanders are struggling to sleep, calling the situation a “massive” psychological burden.
White House Treats Greenland as ‘High Priority’
Despite resistance from Denmark and Greenland, a senior White House official confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been directed to prepare a formal proposal for acquiring Greenland, calling the issue a “high priority” for Trump.
Rubio and Vice President JD Vance were scheduled to meet Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington this week to clarify US intentions. These talks followed earlier discussions with the National Security Council, as European capitals seek assurances that Washington will not escalate the situation.
Trump has continued to push publicly for a deal, saying he would “love to make a deal” but insisting that the US would get Greenland regardless of the outcome of negotiations.
Alternatives to Purchase: Influence Without Ownership
While Trump has floated the possibility of using military force, several US officials believe less confrontational options are more realistic. One proposal under consideration is a Compact of Free Association, similar to US agreements with Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.
Such an arrangement would involve US financial aid and expanded security presence without formal ownership, potentially costing far less than the estimated $500–700 billion purchase price. Under existing agreements, the US already operates military infrastructure at Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, which plays a key role in missile early-warning systems.
A US official familiar with the issue summed it up bluntly:
“Why invade the cow when they’ll sell you the milk at relatively good prices?”
Strategic Anxiety and NATO Concerns
Trump’s rhetoric has raised fears that any attempt to seize Greenland could fracture NATO. Denmark and the US are both NATO members, and experts warn that military action would trigger unprecedented alliance tensions.
Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund said the use of force remains unlikely but warned it would be disastrous.
“It would stir up unbelievable tensions within NATO and maybe even spell the end of the alliance,” he said, adding that Trump would likely face strong resistance from Congress.
Those concerns appear to be shared on Capitol Hill. This week, bipartisan senators introduced legislation barring the Pentagon from using funds to assert control over the sovereign territory of a NATO member without alliance approval — a clear signal of opposition to Trump’s approach.
Why Trump Wants Greenland
Trump’s interest in Greenland stems from strategic and economic considerations. The island’s vast coastline and Arctic location make it critical for monitoring Russian and Chinese activity. It also holds valuable rare earth minerals essential for modern technology.
US officials fear that if Greenland were to gain full independence, it could fall under the influence of geopolitical rivals. However, polling suggests Greenlanders overwhelmingly reject joining the US, with around 85% opposing the idea.
Trump, a former real estate developer, has compared owning Greenland to owning property rather than leasing it — arguing that ownership would secure long-term American influence in the Arctic.
Europe Pushes Back
Denmark and other European allies have responded with firm language. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said the US already has wide latitude to expand its military presence in Greenland but warned that any attempt at coercion would undermine NATO.
In a joint statement last week, European allies vowed to defend Greenland’s territorial integrity, declaring:
“Greenland belongs to its people.”
Our Thoughts
Trump’s renewed push for Greenland has transformed a once-dismissed idea into a serious geopolitical flashpoint. While strategic concerns in the Arctic are real, the combination of massive costs, allied resistance, and overwhelming opposition from Greenlanders makes outright acquisition deeply problematic. The coming weeks will test whether diplomacy can defuse tensions — or whether Trump’s ambitions will further strain transatlantic unity.