A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers visited Denmark to express support amid increasing pressure from President Donald Trump for the U.S. to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of Denmark in the Arctic. The 11-member delegation, led by Senator Chris Coons, met with Danish members of parliament, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Coons stated the purpose of the trip was to listen to the views of local officials and relay those perspectives back to Washington "to lower the temperature" surrounding the issue. Trump has asserted Greenland's importance to U.S. security, suggesting the U.S. could acquire it "the easy way" or "the hard way," alluding to potential purchase or forceful seizure.
Both Denmark and Greenland have voiced opposition to a U.S. takeover. Most Greenlanders are opposed to Trump's bid to buy their island or to seize it by force, according to Reuters.
Greenland, though sparsely populated, is rich in resources and strategically located between North America and the Arctic. This location makes it valuable for early warning systems against missile attacks and for monitoring vessels in the region. The U.S. already maintains a military presence in Greenland, operating the Thule Air Base.
The U.S. interest in Greenland dates back to the 19th century, with various proposals for acquisition considered over the years. In 1946, the U.S. offered to buy Greenland from Denmark for $100 million.
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