By Ginika Igboke
A delegation of U.S. lawmakers met with Danish and Greenlandic leaders in Copenhagen on Jan. 16 to reaffirm support for Denmark as a NATO ally, as President Donald Trump renewed calls for the United States to acquire Greenland.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), joined by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and other lawmakers, traveled to Denmark for talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and senior officials.
Earlier, on Jan. 14, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Greenland’s future. Rasmussen later described the talks as constructive but frank.
“We, the Kingdom of Denmark, continue to believe that the long-term security of Greenland can be ensured within the current framework—the 1951 agreement on the defense of Greenland and the NATO Treaty,” Rasmussen said at a press conference following the meeting.
Greenland is an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty and, through Denmark, is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Trump first floated the idea of the United States purchasing Greenland during his first term, drawing resistance from Denmark and other European allies. He renewed the argument this month, writing on Truth Social on Jan. 14 that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security and to the proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system, which is intended to detect and intercept ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.
Trump has argued that growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic means Denmark cannot adequately defend the island, posing a potential security risk to the United States. Danish officials have repeatedly rejected the claim, emphasizing that Greenland is not for sale.
Following the White House discussions, Denmark announced a long-term NATO exercise in Greenland dubbed Operation Arctic Endurance. The exercise will involve Danish forces and troops from several NATO allies, including France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has been under Danish control since 1721, initially as a colony, and became an integral part of Denmark in 1953. The Home Rule Act of 1979 granted the territory significant self-governing powers, which were expanded further in 2009 under the Self-Government Act. While Greenland manages most domestic affairs, Denmark continues to oversee its foreign policy, security, and defense.
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