Administration believes right dollar figure can unlock sovereignty transfer, sources say.
U.S. officials have discussed offering Greenland payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person to encourage the territory’s 57,000 residents to secede from Denmark and join the United States, according to sources familiar with the internal deliberations who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“We’re still calibrating the amount,” said one source. “The question is what price point unlocks sufficient interest without appearing desperate. At $50,000 you might get curiosity. At $100,000 you’re in serious conversation territory.”
The Greenland Payments Calculation
Officials have framed the payments as “a signing bonus for American citizenship,” though critics have used less generous terms. The indigenous Inuit population has inhabited the island for approximately 4,500 years, a cultural legacy that officials believe can be made more flexible with the right incentive structure.
“Everyone has a number,” one source explained. “The Greenlanders we’ve identified as persuadable tend to be younger, more mobile, less tied to traditional occupations. You start there and build momentum.”
Western observers note that $100,000 represents approximately 18 months of median Greenlandic income. Officials view this as a compelling offer. Whether Greenlanders view four centuries of cultural continuity as worth 18 months of salary remains, as diplomats say, “an open question.”
The administration’s strategy involves targeting what officials internally call “early adopters”—Greenlanders most likely to accept payment in exchange for supporting secession. Sources said the administration believes a critical mass of paid supporters could shift public opinion ahead of any referendum.
The Referendum Math
Any secession would require a vote, meaning U.S. officials must persuade at least 50% of Greenlanders that American citizenship and a lump sum outweigh their existing relationship with Denmark, which includes universal healthcare, parliamentary representation, and a history of not being for sale.
Sources say officials have discussed “sweeteners” beyond cash, including expedited passport processing and a professional hockey franchise. One proposal involved what internal documents describe as “a dog sled subsidy,” though officials acknowledged uncertainty about current demand. “We’re also looking at snowmobiles,” one official clarified. “Whatever closes the deal.”
At $100,000 per person, a successful campaign would cost approximately $5.7 billion—less than a single aircraft carrier, as officials have noted in internal discussions.
Danish officials, reached for comment, reportedly paused for several seconds before asking if the inquiry was serious. Upon confirmation, they declined to comment further.
The Greenlandic government has not responded to requests for comment, which sources interpret as “keeping options open.”
Developing.
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