Newsletters
A pair of bipartisan U.S. senators introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at preventing the United States from occupying, annexing or seizing the territory of a NATO ally, following repeated statements by President Donald Trump about acquiring Greenland.
The bill, titled the NATO Unity Protection Act, was introduced by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
The legislation would prohibit the use of Pentagon or State Department funds to blockade, occupy, annex or carry out military operations against the sovereign territory of a NATO member state without that country’s consent.
It would also bar any U.S. action seeking to assert control over allied territory through force or coercion.
“Any suggestion that the United States might use its power to seize or control the territory of a NATO ally would directly undermine the alliance that keeps Americans safe and play into the hands of our adversaries,” Shaheen said in a statement.
She added that the bill sends a clear message that recent rhetoric regarding Greenland “deeply undermines America’s own national security interests and faces bipartisan opposition in Congress.”
Murkowski said the “notion that America would use our vast resources against our allies is deeply troubling and must be wholly rejected by Congress in statute.”
Trump said Sunday that the United States must “acquire” Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence over the island. He has previously described ownership of Greenland as an “absolute necessity” for U.S. economic and national security, likening it to a major real estate deal.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has significant strategic value due to its Arctic location and mineral resources.
Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly rejected any proposal to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty and Greenland’s autonomous status.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen is scheduled to visit the White House on Wednesday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an effort to lower tensions over Greenland.
The meeting will take place at the White House after Vice President JD Vance requested to join.
Rasmussen said he sought the talks to “clear up certain misunderstandings,” though Trump has dismissed Greenland’s objections.
When asked on Tuesday about Greenland’s leadership opposing U.S. control, Trump said, “Well, that’s their problem.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said ahead of the talks that the island does not want to be owned, governed or incorporated into the United States.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark has faced “completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally.”
Denmark has rejected U.S. claims that it is failing to secure Greenland, noting it has invested nearly 90 billion kroner ($14 billion) to strengthen its Arctic military presence.
Following the White House talks, a senior delegation from the U.S. Congress is expected to visit Copenhagen to express support for Denmark and Greenland.
“President Trump’s continued threats toward Greenland are unnecessary and would only weaken our NATO alliance,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat.
The bill underscores growing bipartisan concern in Washington that rhetoric targeting NATO allies could undermine alliance unity at a time of heightened global tensions.
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
