Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that being passed over for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is connected to international resistance against his persistent campaign for the United States to acquire Greenland. The claim was made in a remarkable letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, revealing a direct link in Trump's mind between the prestigious award and his geopolitical ambitions for the Arctic.
A Letter Linking Peace Prize and Territory
In the correspondence, first reported by PBS NewsHour and later by Bloomberg, Trump expressed a shift in his priorities. He stated that because Norway did not award him the Nobel Peace Prize for what he claims is having stopped eight wars, he no longer feels bound by a duty to prioritize peace above all else. Trump wrote that his focus is now squarely on advancing American interests, though he maintained peace would remain a predominant concern.
The timing of the letter is significant. Prime Minister Støre confirmed it arrived shortly after he and Finnish President Alexander Stubb contacted Trump to voice their opposition to proposed new U.S. tariffs. Those tariffs, threatened to start on February 1, were reportedly retaliation against Finland and Norway for objecting to Trump's goal of acquiring Greenland.
Norway's Firm Rejection and Arctic Stakes
Støre's office was quick to clarify the facts. In a statement, the Prime Minister reiterated that the Norwegian government has no role in selecting the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The independent Nobel committee's five members are appointed by Norway's parliament. Støre also firmly backed Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland, calling it "a part of the Kingdom of Denmark" and expressing support for NATO's responsible steps to bolster Arctic security.
Trump's letter, however, questioned the very basis of Danish control over the vast, semi-autonomous island. He argued that Denmark, a NATO ally, could not defend Greenland from rivals like Russia or China and challenged the historical basis of its ownership. "There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also," Trump wrote, according to reports. He framed U.S. control of Greenland as a necessary condition for world security and a owed favour from NATO.
Diplomatic Ripples and a Symbolic Visit
The episode underscores the ongoing diplomatic friction caused by Trump's unrelenting pursuit of Greenland, which began during his first term and has faced stiff domestic and international opposition. Greenland, incorporated into Denmark in 1953, is self-governing with its own parliament.
Adding a layer of irony, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. In a recent visit to the White House, she presented her award to Trump and later stated that the former president "deserves" the honour. This act highlights the complex and often politicized perceptions surrounding the prize, further entangled by Trump's explicit grievances and his controversial Arctic agenda.
