Copenhagen, January 16, 2026 — A bipartisan delegation of approximately 11 U.S. lawmakers arrived in the Danish capital today to meet with Danish and Greenlandic leaders, aiming to reaffirm congressional support for Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland in the face of President Donald Trump’s escalating demands to acquire or seize control of the Arctic territory.
The delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), includes prominent Republicans such as Senator Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), along with other Democratic members including Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), and Peter Welch (D-Vermont), as well as several House representatives. The group is scheduled to hold meetings with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and other senior officials over the weekend.
The visit comes just days after high-level talks in Washington between U.S. officials—including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—and representatives from Denmark and Greenland ended without a clear resolution. Those discussions, held earlier this week, highlighted deep divisions: the U.S. side emphasized strategic security concerns in the Arctic, including countering potential influence from Russia and China, while Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stressed that U.S. ownership of Greenland remains a non-starter, insisting on respect for territorial integrity and the self-determination of Greenland’s people.
President Trump has revived his interest in Greenland—first publicly expressed in 2019—arguing that the island’s strategic location, vast mineral resources, and military importance make it essential for U.S. national security. He has repeatedly suggested that the U.S. should “own” Greenland, refusing to rule out the use of force if negotiations fail, and has described Denmark’s defense capabilities as insufficient against emerging threats.
This stance has drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the aisle in Congress. The delegation’s trip serves as a direct message of opposition, with participants emphasizing the importance of upholding NATO alliances and international norms. Senator Coons has stated that the visit aims to demonstrate Congress’s commitment to NATO at a time of global instability, underscoring that the U.S. should strengthen ties with allies rather than alienate them.
Bipartisan legislation has also been proposed in response, including measures by Senators Murkowski, Shaheen, and others that would restrict the executive branch’s ability to use funds for any unilateral actions to occupy, annex, or control Greenland or other NATO territories without congressional approval.
Greenlandic leaders have firmly rejected any U.S. takeover, prioritizing self-determination and their ongoing relationship with Denmark. European NATO allies have responded by increasing limited military deployments to the island, framing enhanced Arctic security as a collective responsibility rather than a unilateral U.S. endeavor.
The congressional delegation’s efforts reflect growing unease within Congress—even among some Republicans—about the potential diplomatic fallout from Trump’s approach. As Senator Tillis noted, the visit highlights the co-equal role of Congress in foreign policy matters, signaling that significant opposition exists to any aggressive moves.
The situation remains fluid, with meetings continuing in Copenhagen today and tomorrow. The outcome could influence the broader trajectory of U.S.-Danish relations and NATO cohesion amid heightened Arctic tensions.
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