New York: The Donald Trump administration is planning to pay money to the residents of Greenland in its bid to take over Danish territory in the Arctic.
The plan comes after Denmark warned the US that its soldiers would open fire in the event of a US invasion of the region.
News agency Reuters reported citing sources in the White House that authorities have discussed settling the matter by splurging money ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person to the people of Greenland.
The plan to directly paying 57,000 people of Greenland comes even as authorities of the overseas territory of Denmark declared it is not for sale.
The plan to offer money comes along the tactic of using the US military to take over Greenland.
The Danish defence ministry earlier said that its soldiers had been given instructions to shoot first and ask questions afterwards if the US invades Greenland.
The directive comes in line with the army’s rule of engagement from 1952 which requires soldiers to go on the offensive in the event of an invasion without waiting for orders.
The ministry told Berlingske, a Danish newspaper, that the rule ‘remains in force"’, suggesting that there would be clashes if the US invaded Greenland.
Responding to Trump’s previous statement that use of ‘military force’ was one of the options to acquire the island, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen earlier in a Facebook post said: ‘Enough is enough ... No more fantasies about annexation’.
In the midst of growing controversy, President Trump said on Sunday that ‘We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark isn't going to be able to do it,’adding that’ It's so strategic’.