US lawmakers head to Copenhagen as Trump pushes Greenland seizure plan

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation will travel to Copenhagen later this week to underscore unity with Denmark as President Donald Trump continues to threaten to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of the NATO ally.

The group, led by Sen. Chris Coons and including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, will meet Danish and Greenlandic officials and business leaders on January 16-17, per US media reports.

Coons told journalists that the delegation aims to reaffirm the long-standing partnership with Denmark and “in no way seek to interfere in their internal discussions about the status of Greenland.” He highlighted Denmark’s support for the United States after the September 11 attacks and said the only change in relations stems from Trump’s recent statements about acquiring the island. Coons emphasised the need to show strong support for NATO and the alliance.

The delegation considered adding a stop in Greenland, but dropped the idea due to logistical constraints. Tensions have escalated as the White House weighs a range of options, including military force, to obtain Greenland. Trump said aboard Air Force One that the U.S. must “take Greenland,” arguing that otherwise Russia or China would, and added he would prefer “to make a deal.”

Danish and Greenlandic envoys will be in Washington this week for talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. China warned that the U.S. should not use other countries as a “pretext” for its aims in Greenland, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisting China’s Arctic activities promote peace and comply with international law.

Coons said the trip also intends to underline that “there is no imminent threat to Greenland from the Chinese and the Russians.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has cautioned that an American takeover would end NATO. Greenland’s political leaders issued a joint statement stressing that the island’s future must be determined by its people and calling for an end to what they described as U.S. contempt.

Greenland’s prime minister reiterated that the territory is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and of NATO, saying its security “belongs within NATO” and that it is a democratic society acting under international law. China, which declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018, is seeking greater regional influence and plans to develop a “Polar Silk Road” within its Belt and Road Initiative.