US Senate delegation in Greenland: Restoring trust after Trump's remarks
A high-level delegation from the US Senate arrived in Greenland on Monday for a diplomatic visit aimed primarily at rebuilding trust and repairing relations recently strained by renewed statements from US President Donald Trump regarding his desire to acquire the island. The visit is intended to reassure Arctic allies that the United States remains committed to a strategic partnership based on mutual respect, moving beyond a purely commercial view of sovereign territory.
Messages of reassurance from Congress
“With a few sentences and a few words, the trust that has been built since World War II has been eroded and shattered, and we must work to rebuild it,” said Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who is leading the delegation, at a press conference in the capital, Nuuk. Addressing Greenlandic officials, she added, “We are here to remind you that our president can make statements, but we also have a role to play as members of Congress who represent the voice of the people and the legislative institutions.”.
The delegation, in addition to Murkowski, included Independent Senator Angus King and Democrats Gary Peters and Maggie Hassan, reflecting bipartisan agreement in Washington on the importance of maintaining the alliance with Denmark and Greenland. The delegation visited the strategic U.S. military base at B'Tufik (formerly Thule Air Base) and met with senior officials, including Foreign Minister Vivien Motzfeldt, to discuss avenues for joint cooperation.
The strategic importance of the Arctic
The importance of this visit extends beyond mere diplomacy, stemming from Greenland's growing geopolitical significance. The island occupies a vital position between North America, Europe, and Russia, serving as a gateway to the Arctic, a region experiencing escalating international competition as ice melts and new shipping lanes open. Washington fears the increasing Chinese and Russian influence in the region, making the maintenance of a strong and stable relationship with the governments of Greenland and Denmark essential for US national security.
Historically, American interest in the island dates back decades, with President Harry Truman offering to purchase it in 1946. However, the current context is radically different, given the evolving concepts of sovereignty and the rights of indigenous peoples. The island hosts vital American early warning radars for missile defense, making any political tension a threat to the Western defense system.
Red lines and sovereignty
Trump sparked widespread outrage in January by announcing his intention to take control of the self-governing, Danish-controlled island, threatening the use of force if necessary, before later backtracking and announcing a framework for negotiations with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Despite this reversal, Denmark, Greenland, and the United States formed a working group to discuss the issue.
In this context, Senator Gary Peters emphasized, "We must now rebuild trust. We promise to be your friends, and we want you to promise to be our friends too." Denmark and Greenland affirm that they share Washington's security concerns, but they categorically stress that sovereignty and territorial integrity constitute a "red line" that cannot be crossed in any trilateral talks, and that the island is open for business and cooperation, but is not for sale.
