By Gram Slattery, Valerie Volcovici, and Steve HollandWASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. officials are in discussions about a proposal to bring Greenland under America’s influence using a type of agreement that the United States has employed to maintain close relationships with several Pacific Island nations, as per two U.S. officials and another individual familiar with the talks.Under the potential plan, the Trump administration would suggest to Greenland’s leaders that the island enter into a Compact of Free Association, or COFA, with the United States. While the specifics of COFA agreements differ based on the signatory, which has historically been limited to the small island countries of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, the general understanding is that the U.S. government would provide various essential services such as mail delivery, emergency management, and military protection. In return, the U.S. military would have unrestricted operations in COFA countries, and trade with the U.S. would largely be duty-free.During his first term, President Donald Trump floated the idea of acquiring Greenland and has since intensified efforts, including not ruling out the use of force to take possession of the island. However, Denmark, which governs Greenland, has firmly rejected the proposal.A COFA agreement would fall short of Trump’s desire to integrate the island’s population of 57,000 into the U.S. It is one of several plans for Greenland under consideration and is likely to encounter various practical challenges.Prior to Trump’s presidency, informal suggestions about the idea had been reported, but it was not previously disclosed that White House officials had initiated discussions regarding the logistics of such a proposal. Some members of the National Security Council, the National Energy Dominance Council, and the National Economic Council are reportedly involved in the talks.A COFA agreement with Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, would likely necessitate Greenland’s separation from Denmark. While surveys indicate interest in independence among Greenlanders, the majority do not want to become part of the U.S. A COFA agreement, which grants significant autonomy to Washington, may face similar skepticism.One of the individuals engaged in the discussions is Markus Thomi, the acting senior director for the National Security Council’s Western Hemisphere section, according to two sources. David Copley, a key mining official on the NEDC, is also participating in the talks, as per one source.Requests for comments from the White House, the Danish Embassy, and Greenland’s representative office in Washington were unanswered. The Interior Department, responsible for overseeing COFA agreements through its Office of Insular Affairs, also did not respond.Existing COFA agreements with Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia are viewed as crucial for countering China’s increasing influence in the Asia Pacific. However, these agreements have faced challenges in the past, with some Republican lawmakers opposing budget allocations for COFA funding, leading to significant frustrations in the beneficiary countries. Additionally, signing a COFA does not guarantee immunity from influence campaigns by
US officials have expressed concern about Palau’s close connections with senior political figures, while Danish leaders have not been approached about the COFA idea for Greenland’s future status. Although the US Administration views Greenland as crucial due to its mineral deposits with high-tech and military applications, challenges such as labor shortages and infrastructure limitations remain barriers to tapping into these resources. The US is assisting Greenland in diversifying its economy and gaining economic independence from Denmark through agencies like the Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank. The Tanbreez Project, involving rare earth extraction on the island, is seen as a positive development in US-Greenland relations. A potential COFA could address security concerns, but details have not been elaborated on.
