🇺🇸 The United States Considers Direct Payments to Greenland Residents, the Largest Land Deal in History

🔹 According to Reuters, U.S. officials are discussing the possibility of direct payments to each Greenland resident as part of an effort to persuade Greenland to secede from Denmark and potentially join the U.S.

🔹 The proposed amount ranges from $10,000 to $100,000 per person. With a population of about 57,000, the total estimated cost would be approximately $570 million to $5.7 billion.

🔹 This is not the U.S. purchasing territory from the government but rather directly impacting the people, with the assumption that if a referendum were held, Greenlanders would support joining the U.S.

🔹 The White House is said to have engaged in high-level discussions, indicating that this is not just an experimental idea but one being seriously considered.

🔹 However, the Danish government and Greenland's authorities both affirm that Greenland is not for sale, and no official agreement has been reached.

🔹 Comparing with historical land deals in U.S. history

– Louisiana Purchase in 1803: The U.S. bought from France for $15 million, equivalent to about $350–$400 million today. This deal occurred amid continuous European wars and France’s urgent need for money.

– Florida in 1819: The U.S. bought from Spain for about $5 million, equivalent to $150–$200 million today, during a period of Spanish decline and loss of control.

– Mexican Cession in 1848, including California and many Western states: The U.S. paid $15 million, roughly $500 million today, but this followed the Mexican-American War, with Mexico defeated, meaning there was a war component involved.

– Alaska in 1867: The U.S. purchased from Russia for $7.2 million, approximately $140–$150 million today, during a time when Russia needed money after war and was concerned about losing Alaska to Britain.