President Donald Trump warned Friday that he could impose tariffs on countries that oppose his long-discussed plan to acquire Greenland, as a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers visited Denmark to express support for the autonomous Arctic territory.
The 11-member congressional delegation, on a two-day trip to Copenhagen, emphasized that the majority of Americans do not back Trump’s territorial ambitions, which Denmark has repeatedly rejected. European allies have also signaled support for Greenland, with a Danish general noting that a U.S.-invited military reconnaissance mission in the Arctic was linked to monitoring Russian activity following the war in Ukraine.
Trump, reiterating his view that Greenland’s mineral resources are critical to U.S. “national security,” said he “may put a tariff” on countries that do not align with his position. The comments come amid growing tensions between the U.S. administration and both Danish and Greenlandic authorities.
During their visit, the lawmakers held talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, as well as Denmark’s foreign and defense ministers, members of parliament, and business leaders.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski described the discussions as a “good dialogue” and highlighted the importance of nurturing ties between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. “The vast majority of Americans do not agree that it is a good idea for the United States to acquire Greenland,” she told reporters. “Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset.”
The visit followed a meeting in Washington earlier this week, where Danish officials conveyed that Copenhagen and Washington were in “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland’s future.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons stressed that the congressional visit was intended to “listen respectfully to our friends, our trusted allies and partners here in Denmark and from Greenland.” He added that lawmakers would return to the United States to “share those perspectives so that we can lower the temperature and have a more constructive dialogue about the best path forward.”
In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, residents welcomed the congressional show of support. “Congress would never approve of a military action in Greenland. It’s just one idiot speaking,” a 39-year-old union representative told AFP on condition of anonymity. “If he [Trump] does it, he’ll get impeached or kicked out. If people in Congress want to save their own democracy, they have to step up.”
Trump has repeatedly criticized Denmark, a NATO ally, arguing that it does not do enough to ensure Greenland’s security, despite the island already being covered under NATO’s defense umbrella.
Major General Soren Andersen, head of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command, said the U.S. was invited to the Arctic military mission, which he described as “about Russia.” He noted that after the war in Ukraine, Russian resources may be redirected to other theaters, including the Arctic. “So, in order to prepare for that, we simply have to step up, train, and that is what we are doing here,” Andersen said. He also noted that no Russian or Chinese combat ships had been seen in Greenlandic waters during his two and a half years as commander.
Military personnel were increasingly visible in Nuuk on Friday, days after Denmark announced plans to strengthen its defense presence on the island.
The White House has maintained that European military involvement will not affect Trump’s Greenland ambitions. French Armed Forces Minister Alice Rufo said the deployments signal Europe’s readiness to defend sovereignty. Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden have sent small contingents to the Arctic to prepare for potential future exercises.
Meanwhile, large demonstrations are planned across Denmark and Greenland this weekend, with Greenlandic associations organizing protests in Nuuk, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense. Social media has amplified the mobilization, with thousands pledging participation against Trump’s proposed Greenland takeover.
