A high-level, bipartisan group of American lawmakers traveled to Copenhagen on Friday, delivering a message of reassurance to the leaders of Denmark and Greenland. This visit comes directly in response to President Donald Trump's repeated threats to seize the vast Arctic island, a move that has sparked an unprecedented diplomatic rift between the NATO allies.
Congressional Visit Aims to Mend Fences
The 11-member U.S. delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, held meetings with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The meetings were a clear effort to demonstrate that congressional support for the longstanding alliance remains strong, despite the White House's controversial position.
"At a time of increasing international instability, we need to draw closer to our allies, not drive them away," Senator Coons stated in a press release ahead of the visit. His sentiment was echoed by New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, who warned that talk of a takeover undermines NATO and benefits adversaries like Russia and China.
"I know there are real, deep concerns here in Denmark and in Greenland. These concerns are understandable when trust is shaken," Shaheen said in Copenhagen. "But I believe saner heads will prevail." She pointed to overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress for NATO and the U.S.-Danish relationship.
White House Stalemate and Firm Danish Stance
The congressional trip followed a high-stakes but inconclusive meeting at the White House on Wednesday. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Danish officials confirmed afterward that they had failed to shift the U.S. administration's stance on acquiring Greenland.
In a firm response on social media, Foreign Minister Rasmussen reiterated Denmark's position: "(We are) ready for cooperation on security in the Arctic but it has to happen with respect for our territorial integrity, international law and the UN Charter." Meanwhile, cabinet ministers from Denmark and Greenland convened on Friday to discuss the island's preparedness in light of the ongoing tensions.
Bipartisan Opposition and Public Opinion Back Home
President Trump, who first floated the idea of buying Greenland in 2019, is facing significant opposition in Washington. Lawmakers from both his Republican party and the Democratic opposition have indicated they would support legislation to curb any presidential attempt to seize the territory, citing Congress's constitutional war powers.
Public opinion also appears to be against the move. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 17% of Americans approve of Trump's efforts to acquire Greenland, with large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans opposing the use of military force for annexation. Trump has dismissed these findings as "fake."
The delegation in Copenhagen included Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski, alongside Democratic colleagues. As a symbolic gesture of solidarity, the Greenlandic flag was flown at the main staircase of the Danish parliament, Christiansborg. Demonstrations in support of Greenland's sovereignty were also planned in Danish cities and the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk.
