Senator Lisa Murkowski criticizes President Trump's consideration of acquiring Greenland, arguing it would damage NATO, aid Russia and China, and be a strategic error. She emphasizes Greenland's sovereignty and the importance of international alliances, highlighting concerns over potential coercion and the existing strategic partnership with Denmark. Other leaders from European countries also speak against the possible Greenland acquisition. The article also mentions a meeting between U.S. and Danish officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and provides some context from other related events.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska, issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump about his Greenland ambitions Friday, saying that any attempt to acquire the Arctic territory would shatter NATO and hand victories to Russia and China .
on the Senate floor, Murkowski said that taking Greenland would be a “colossal mistake” and would take focus away from other priorities: health coverage, strengthening sanctions on Russia, and avoiding another government shutdown.“Whether it is taking it by force, taking it by coercion, taking it by pressure or threat, or, really, in fairness, any related method. This is not an issue I ever expected to raise here on the floor of the Senate,” Murkowski said. Murkowski acknowledged Greenland’s strategic importance to the United States, including its Arctic defense position against China and Russia and its rare-earth minerals. She said she understands exploring new partnerships or deals, such as a Compact of Free Association. A compact of free association would include financial assistance in exchange for allowing the U.S. to have a military presence there — which the U.S. already does at Pituffik Space Base. But the United States cannot force Greenland and Denmark to surrender power and land, she said. The leaders of Greenland and Denmark, Murkowski added, have made it “abundantly clear” that Greenland is not for sale. Murkowski said Greenland leaders she knows personally have expressed “deep anxiety” about U.S. intentions. “What is it that the United States is asking for?” they’ve asked her. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark with a population of about 56,000, mostly Inuit people. It has become a strategic asset for NATO and the United States as an entry point to the Arctic Ocean. It is also believed to contain significant deposits of rare-earth minerals.that the U.S. should take over Greenland, citing that it would ensure its security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic. “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.” This was not the first time Trump has brought up the topic of annexing Greenland. He first brought it up during his first term as president in 2019 and again in 2025.“If we lose the people of Greenland, we will lose partners in Denmark and across Europe. We will destroy our strongest international alliance and that is NATO—and that gives Russia and China, exactly, exactly what they are looking for," Murkowski said. The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing athis week reaffirming that Greenland “belongs to its people.” Frederiksen warned that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of NATO. “Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them,” the joint statement from European leaders said.“Alaska and Greenland shared cultural connection - but it’s not part of America. And we can’t simply take it because we want to. To do so would be a colossal mistake and end NATO,” Murkowski said. Murkowski’s speech came after she voted Thursday to end U.S. military operations in Venezuela, another Trump foreign policy decision she opposed.READ MORE: Trump: Murkowski ‘should never be elected’ again after vote to limit war powers A spokesperson for Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, says he has no new comment at this time and refers to his“Alaska is America’s Arctic. If we can get Greenland, great. But Alaska has every strategic advantage we need for energy dominance and national security: Arctic location, critical minerals, oil and gas, the cornerstone of our country’s missile defense. Alaska is America’s strategic crown jewel,” Sullivan stated. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials next week, according to the Associated Press. Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt told Danish broadcaster DR that Greenland requested the meeting, emphasizing, “Nothing about Greenland without Greenland.” READ MORE: Rubio plans to meet with Danish officials next week to talk about US interest in Greenland NEW DETAILS: ‘Enormous structural damage’ seen after overnight fire at an Anchorage funeral home, AFD says‘We’ve definitely lost a good half of the building’, car wash comments on Friday fireFIRST ALERT: Heavy snow is shifting to rain, increasing flood dangerKindergartner killed by school bus was dragged nearly 300 feet before being run over: reportWe do the math: sales tax vs property taxes - which saves you more money?
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