US : pitch on Greenland sparks discussions about alliances and security
US: Officials’ framing of the Trump administration’s remarks on Greenland as a national security problem sparked a political discussion in Washington over US policy in the Arctic, NATO alliances, and diplomacy.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a White House briefing on Wednesday (local time) that the potential US purchase of Greenland is “something that’s currently being actively discussed by the president and his national security team.”
She maintained that the need to prevent “Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic region” and US national security interests were linked to the matter. She also emphasized that “the president’s first option always has been diplomacy.”
Speaking separately to reporters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the concept was “not new” and that President Donald Trump has discussed Greenland since his first administration.
According to Rubio, “every president… always retains the option” to confront challenges to US national security, and Trump was not the first US president to consider how the US may purchase Greenland.
As a diplomat, Rubio said that the US “always prefer(s) to settle it in different ways,” meaning that going to war was not the best option.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including top Republicans and Democrats, swiftly responded to the administration’s comments, many of them cautioning that tough language may jeopardize established relationships in the Arctic.
In a joint statement, Senate Arctic Caucus co-chairs Senators Angus King of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska warned against any notion of force.
Murkowski expressed her hope that the administration’s rhetoric was “nothing more than posturing for a new era of cooperation” and cautioned that any attempt to annex or seize Greenland militarily would “degrade both our national security and our international relationships.”
According to King, “There is absolutely no national security reason for us to own, occupy or control Greenland.”
The administration’s stance was criticized by Democrats. California Representative Pete Aguilar described any discussion of military action against Greenland as “threatening a NATO ally” and called such comments “completely unhinged.”
There is “absolutely no legal justification whatsoever to use military force against a NATO ally, against Greenland,” according to Representative Ted Lieu, who also said that it would be unlawful to take such action without legislative authorization.
Republican leaders prioritized diplomacy while attempting to make clear the administration’s stance. There was “no intent of being at war with Greenland,” according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, who described the conversation as centered on the “geopolitical and strategic importance” of Greenland.
Johnson said that no military action was being considered and that Congress had not been asked to approve any such action.
Numerous MPs emphasized their current collaboration with Greenland and Denmark.
After visiting Greenland’s representative and the Danish ambassador in Washington, Congressman Mike Flood expressed his confidence that Rubio could “navigate a diplomatic win-win solution,” pointing out that they were receptive to actions that would improve US security while upholding Danish sovereignty.
His reference was to Trump’s previous statements endorsing “the incredible people of Greenland” and their “right to determine your own future.”
Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell issued a warning, saying that “threats and intimidation by US officials over American ownership of Greenland are as unseemly as they are counterproductive.”
According to McConnell, using force to take over the land of “one of America’s most loyal and capable allies” would be a “strategic self-harm” that might weaken US influence abroad.
Both parties’ lawmakers emphasized that the United States has long had critical access to the High North via close collaboration with Denmark and Greenland, without requiring ownership.
Within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is an independent region. It is situated close to new Arctic shipping lanes and at a vital location between North America and Europe.
For many years, the US has had a military presence on the island, notably at Pituffik Space Base (previously Thule Air Base), which is crucial for space surveillance and missile warning.