(NewsNation) — A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation emphasized Greenland should be viewed as an ally, not an asset, during a visit to Copenhagen on Friday to show solidarity with Denmark amid rising tensions over Greenland.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said public opinion in the U.S. strongly opposes the idea of acquiring Greenland.
“I think it is important to underscore when you ask the American people whether or not they think it is a good idea for the United States to acquire Greenland, the vast majority — some 75% — will say we do not think that that is a good idea,” she said.
Murkowski added that she shares that view and wants to strengthen longstanding relationships in the region.
“I want to build on the relationship that we have had,” she said. “Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset.”
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is leading the trip of at least nine members of Congress, including Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. The group is scheduled to be in Copenhagen over the weekend, where members will meet with senior Danish and Greenlandic government officials and business leaders.
The goal is to reassure Danish leaders that the United States will not seek to take over Greenland, despite President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that the U.S. needs the Arctic island for national security reasons.
Meanwhile, troops from several European countries continued arriving in Greenland on Friday as part of military exercises and a broader push to increase security in and around the island.
Tensions have grown between Washington, Denmark and Greenland this month as Trump continues to press the issue and the White House weighs a range of options, including the possible use of military force to acquire the territory.
White House: Greenland acquisition remains a priority
Despite diplomatic efforts, the Trump administration maintains that acquiring Greenland remains a priority.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday the administration plans to continue discussions with Danish officials and representatives from Greenland, but emphasized Trump’s position.
“The president has made his priority quite clear,” she said. “He wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He thinks it’s in our best national security to do that.”
Trump has said he’d prefer to “make a deal” for the territory, “but one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”
Trump: Russia or China will take Greenland
Greenland contains rare-earth minerals critical to renewable energy production and communications, and it sits along key Arctic air and sea routes. It is also home to Pituffik Space Base, the northernmost U.S. military installation.
Trump has argued Greenland could become a target for Russia or China, and again raised the idea Sunday aboard Air Force One, arguing that the U.S. needs to “take Greenland” to prevent another country from doing so.
Trump has said he wants to control Greenland at any cost, and the White House has not ruled out acquiring the territory using military force.
Greenland has seen an increased military presence over the last two days. European troops from countries including France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark have been deployed, and Demark announced plans to increase its military presence by sending additional planes, navy ships and soldiers to the region.
Lawmakers stress NATO unity
Lawmakers involved in the discussions say the focus remains on the need for cooperation among NATO allies as attention on the Arctic intensifies.
“There’s a great deal of support in Congress and the Senate for the relationship, the historic relationship that we’ve had with Denmark and with Greenland, and that will continue,” said Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s foreign minister. “We are ready to do more in order to accommodate any reasonable American requests, because we share the view that we have to step up in the Arctic in order to deter and defend.”
The White House said the U.S., Denmark and Greenland have agreed to hold more talks every two to three weeks, even as a bipartisan group of lawmakers moves to block any U.S. takeover of Greenland without its consent.