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United States President Donald Trump has warned that he could place tariffs on countries that do not support his Greenland takeover plans, as US Congress members visited Copenhagen to back Denmark and its autonomous Arctic island.
The bipartisan delegation, on a two-day trip to the Danish capital, said the US president’s long-held territorial ambitions — strongly rejected by Denmark — were not shared by the American people.
Trump, again insisting the US needed mineral-rich Greenland for its “national security”, warned on Friday that he “may put a tariff” on countries that oppose that stance.
Trump has not ruled out using force to take over the autonomous island, increasing tensions between the US, Denmark and other allied countries.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has issued a warning that a military occupation of Greenland could spell the demise of the NATO alliance, which has stood for decades.
The US delegation in Copenhagen held talks with Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen, as well as Denmark’s foreign and defence ministers, parliamentarians and business leaders.
US Republican senator Lisa Murkowski said there was “good dialogue” and stressed it was important to “nurture” ties between the US, 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 should be recognized as our ally, not treated as a commodity,” Frederiksen emphasized.
US Democratic senator Chris Coons said the purpose of the Congress members’ visit was to “listen respectfully to our friends, our trusted allies and partners here in Denmark and from Greenland”.
The delegation was then to return to the United States “and share those perspectives so that we can lower the temperature and have a more constructive dialogue about the best path forward”, he said.
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, locals expressed appreciation for this affirmation of solidarity.
“Congress would never approve of a military action in Greenland. It’s just one idiot speaking,” a 39-year-old union representative told the Agence France-Presse news agency.
“If [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,” said the union rep, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Trump has repeatedly criticised Denmark — a NATO ally — for, in his view, not doing enough to ensure Greenland’s security.
The US president has pursued that argument, despite strategically located Greenland — as part of Denmark — being covered by NATO’s security umbrella.
Large demonstrations are planned across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to protest against Trump’s plan.
