Washington | U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated that acquiring Greenland is a “national security priority” for the United States, a stance that has prompted bipartisan concern in Congress over the potential risks to NATO and international stability.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump considers Greenland crucial for deterring adversaries in the Arctic region. “The Commander in Chief has the option to use the United States military at any time,” she said, adding that the President and his team are weighing multiple options to achieve what they describe as a significant foreign policy objective.
The remarks drew swift criticism from lawmakers, who warned that even suggesting military action against Greenland—a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark—could jeopardize one of America’s closest allies. Representatives Blake Moore of Utah and Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, co-chairs of the nonpartisan Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, called Trump’s statements “needlessly dangerous.”
“One of America’s closest allies and a NATO member is the Kingdom of Denmark,” they said. “An attack on Greenland would also be an attack on NATO.” They highlighted Denmark’s decades-long cooperation with the United States on Arctic security, including allowing increased U.S. military presence and investing 3.3% of its GDP in defense to deter Russia and China.
The lawmakers stressed that Washington already has the military access and facilities it requires in Greenland, making annexation unnecessary. They cautioned that aggressive rhetoric could undermine confidence among allies and embolden adversaries.
In response, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego proposed an amendment to the Senate Defense Appropriations bill to block the use of federal funds for any military action, hostilities, or war preparations against Greenland. Gallego criticized the administration for using foreign policy threats as a distraction from domestic issues, including inflation and rising living costs.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer expressed broader concerns about Trump’s foreign policy approach, linking the Greenland statements to recent tensions in Venezuela. Schumer said the administration provided “no real answers” regarding U.S. objectives abroad during a confidential briefing, warning that such rhetoric echoes the risks of the 1930s and could entangle the U.S. in unnecessary conflicts.
Senator Mark Warner also voiced concern that targeting a longstanding ally like Denmark could undermine the transatlantic alliance, stating that “American aggressive action against Denmark would lead to the absolute destruction of NATO more than anything else.”
Greenland’s strategic importance to the U.S. has grown as melting Arctic ice opens new trade routes and intensifies competition with China and Russia. The island hosts U.S. military installations critical for missile defense and Arctic monitoring, underscoring the geopolitical stakes behind Trump’s renewed interest.
As the debate unfolds in Washington, lawmakers continue to urge caution, stressing diplomacy and alliance preservation over unilateral military ambitions.
