U.S. lawmakers are traveling to Denmark this week as President Donald Trump continues to threaten a Greenland takeover, including raising the possibility of using the U.S. military. The visit comes as Trump administration officials are also expected to meet Danish officials about Greenland, according to diplomatic sources cited by CBS News.
The dispute is putting new strain on U.S. ties with a long-time ally, as members of Congress from both parties warn the rhetoric could damage NATO unity. Denmark and Greenland have pushed back, stressing that Greenland is not for sale and that Greenland’s political parties do not want to become part of the United States.
Lawmakers head to Copenhagen
A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers is scheduled to visit Denmark this week amid the intensifying Greenland dispute. The group is led by Democratic Sen. Chris Coons and includes Republican Sen. Thom Tillis along with Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin, according to a report published by FutuNN. The same report said several House members are also expected to join the trip.
The delegation plans to be in Copenhagen on Friday and Saturday, the FutuNN report said. The visit comes as lawmakers anticipate Senate action on legislation intended to limit Trump’s ability to take control of Greenland from Denmark, according to the same report.
Trump repeats military option
Trump has repeatedly said the United States “must possess” Greenland and has argued that the current U.S. military presence there is not enough, according to the FutuNN report. Trump has also said, “One way or another, we will get Greenland,” while indicating he would prefer a negotiated deal, the report said.
CBS News reported that the White House said Tuesday that officials are discussing a wide range of options for acquiring Greenland, including using the U.S. military to take it by force. CBS News also reported that Trump said Sunday on Air Force One, “one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland,” and suggested other powers could move in if the U.S. does not. In a separate quote CBS News attributed to Trump, he said, “If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland, and I am not going to let that happen.”
Congress weighs new bills
The controversy has triggered competing proposals in Congress, according to the FutuNN report. One bill described in that report, the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act, was introduced by Republican Rep. Randy Feeney and would give Trump authority to annex Greenland. Another proposal cited by FutuNN, the Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act, was introduced by Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez and would block federal funds from being used to finance a takeover of Greenland.
Sen. Tillis said it is important for Congress to stand united behind allies and respect the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland, according to the FutuNN report. Sen. Durbin said Trump’s continued threats are unnecessary and would weaken NATO, the report added. CBS News also reported that Sen. Tim Kaine said he believes Democrats and Republicans would unite to stop any military action aimed at taking Greenland.
Denmark and Greenland push back
Denmark and Greenland have rejected the idea that Greenland is for sale, and Trump’s comments have drawn direct opposition from both, according to the FutuNN report. CBS News reported that Denmark’s Ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, responded to remarks by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry by emphasizing that Greenland has been part of the Kingdom of Denmark for centuries. CBS News also reported that Sørensen pointed to statements from Greenland’s political parties saying they do not want Greenland to become part of the United States.
CBS News reported that Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four party leaders said Friday night: “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.” The FutuNN report similarly said Denmark and Greenland have made clear Greenland is not for sale.
NATO concerns rise
CBS News reported that several European diplomats said they increasingly question how firm America’s commitment to Europe and NATO will be, and one diplomat described the Greenland dispute as a potential breaking point. CBS News also reported Trump raised doubts about whether NATO would support the U.S. if needed, while saying leaving the alliance “would save a lot of money.”
Denmark is a NATO member, and CBS News noted NATO’s Article 5 principle that an armed attack on one ally is treated as an attack on all. CBS News reported Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said earlier this month that a U.S. military move to seize Greenland would amount to the end of the NATO military alliance. Kaine called that scenario “disastrous” on “Face the Nation,” according to CBS News.
