Norway PM confirms Donald Trump’s text linking Nobel Peace Prize snub to Greenland and tariff threats

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has confirmed receiving a message from Donald Trump that linked the Nobel Peace Prize to the US President’s approach to global politics.

Store said he made it clear to Trump that Norway’s government does not decide who receives the Nobel Peace Prize. That responsibility, he said, lies with an independent committee.

Advertisement

“I have clearly explained, including to President Trump, what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government,” Store said in a statement.

The Norwegian leader explained that Trump’s message followed an earlier text sent by Store and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. The two leaders had written jointly to oppose Washington’s proposed tariff hikes against Norway, Finland and other countries.

“I can confirm that this is a text message that I received yesterday afternoon from President Trump. It came in response to a short text message from me to President Trump sent earlier on the same day, on behalf of myself and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb. In our message to Trump, we conveyed our opposition to his announced tariff increases against Norway, Finland and select other countries,” Store said.

Store added that the message also called for restraint and dialogue.

“We pointed to the need to de-escalate and proposed a telephone conversation between Trump, Stubb and myself on the same day. The response from Trump came shortly after the message was sent. It was his decision to share his message with other NATO leaders,” he said.

Also Read: US to deploy NORAD aircraft at Greenland base amid tensions over Donald Trump’s acquisition push

What Trump said on the Nobel Prize and global politics

According to Store, Trump’s message argued that Norway’s failure to award him the Nobel Peace Prize had changed how he viewed alliances and global decision-making.

“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Trump said.

The message then shifted focus to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark that Trump has repeatedly said the United States should acquire. In the text, Trump questioned Denmark’s historical and legal claim to the island and raised concerns about its security.

“Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents; it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also,” he said.

Trump concluded with a broad claim about global security.

“The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland,” he said.

Store responded by restating Norway’s position and backing Denmark, while emphasising the role of NATO in maintaining stability in the Arctic.

“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter. We also support that NATO, in a responsible way, is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic,” he said.

Trump has threatened to impose a 10 per cent tariff on the UK and European Union countries if they do not agree to sell Greenland to the United States.