U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in which he said he no longer felt bound to focus only on peace after not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. In the same message, he reiterated his longstanding interest in the Arctic island of Greenland and said that its security required U.S. control rather than continued Danish sovereignty. The letter was shared with several European ambassadors and has added to tensions with Western allies. 

The correspondence came amid a broader dispute in which Trump’s administration announced tariffs on eight European countries for opposing U.S. efforts to acquire Greenland. Norway and Finland, both NATO members, were among those resisting the U.S. position, prompting diplomatic engagement ahead of the letter. 

Norwegian officials stressed that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee and not by the Norwegian government. Norway’s leadership also reaffirmed its support for Denmark’s authority over Greenland. European Union representatives have been holding urgent discussions to coordinate responses to the U.S. policy moves, which include tariff threats and new rhetoric on Greenland’s status. 

The letter and related actions have contributed to heightened concern among European governments about challenges to long-standing diplomatic relationships. Leaders in multiple NATO and EU countries are engaging in emergency talks and evaluating possible joint responses to increased pressure from Washington over Arctic policy and trade. 

Sources: Reuters, The Guardian, Time, The Independent. Politico Europe