America is the strongest nation in the world. We could do anything we wanted to.
And now President Trump turned his eyes towards annexation of a key territory yet again.
Trump’s Medicare Coverage for Weight-Loss Drugs Could Provide Leverage in Greenland Discussions
President Donald Trump has not publicly discussed Greenland in recent months, but his administration’s new policy to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound may create new economic ties with Denmark, which administers the territory.
Analysts suggest the move could indirectly strengthen U.S. negotiating power on Arctic security and resource issues.
The policy, set to begin in mid-2026, will cap patient co-pays at $50 per month for covered individuals, with the federal government covering the difference between that amount and a negotiated wholesale price of $245. Private insurers often align their coverage decisions with Medicare, potentially broadening access further.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant that manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, stands to gain substantial revenue from the expanded U.S. market. The company’s sales have slowed amid competition from Eli Lilly’s similar drugs, contributing to Denmark’s recent decision to cut its 2025 economic growth forecast by more than half.
Novo Nordisk’s Economic Importance to Denmark
At its peak, Novo Nordisk’s market capitalization exceeded Denmark’s entire gross domestic product. A significant increase in U.S. demand could help reverse the company’s recent downturn and provide a boost to the Danish economy at a time when Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s government is preparing for elections next fall.
Her Social Democrats recently lost control of Copenhagen in local elections for the first time in over a century, and current polls show the governing coalition trailing its 2022 results.
Potential Strategic Implications for Greenland Talks
Denmark retains authority over Greenland’s foreign affairs and defense policy, despite the island’s self-governing status.
Observers note that stronger U.S. purchasing commitments for Novo Nordisk products could give the Trump administration additional influence in discussions with Copenhagen.
Possible areas of cooperation include expanded U.S. military access—such as upgrades to existing bases or new facilities to monitor Arctic activity by Russia and China—as well as joint efforts to develop Greenland’s mineral resources. Denmark has recently increased its own military investment in the region.
Any agreement would require consultation with Greenland’s local government and could not involve a direct sale of territory, which remains politically unfeasible.
However, enhanced defense and economic partnerships could align with shared Western interests in countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic while supporting Greenland’s long-term economic independence from Danish subsidies.
The policy also delivers lower costs for weight-loss treatments to millions of Americans and may reduce future healthcare spending on obesity-related conditions, creating domestic benefits alongside potential foreign-policy advantages.
