6 months ago
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A bipartisan U.S. legislature delegation is headed to Copenhagen aboriginal this week successful an effort to amusement unity betwixt the United States and Denmark arsenic President Donald Trump continues to threaten to prehend Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of the NATO ally.
Senator Chris Coons is starring the travel of astatine slightest 9 members of Congress, including Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
The radical volition beryllium successful Copenhagen connected Friday (January 9, 2026) and Saturday (January 10, 2026), according to a legislature adjutant acquainted with the trip's planning. The lawmakers volition conscionable with high-level Danish and Greenlandic authorities officials and concern leaders, according to the aide, granted anonymity up of a ceremonial announcement.
The travel comes arsenic China said Monday (January 13, 2026) that the U.S. shouldn't usage different countries arsenic a “pretext” to prosecute its interests successful Greenland and said that its activities successful the Arctic comply with planetary law
The remark by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson came successful effect to a question astatine a regular regular briefing. Mr. Trump has said that helium would similar to marque a woody to get Greenland, a semiautonomous portion of NATO state Denmark, to forestall Russia oregon China from taking it over.
Tensions person escalated betwixt Washington, Denmark, and Greenland this period arsenic Mr. Trump and his medication propulsion the contented and the White House considers a scope of options, including military force, to get the immense Arctic island.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover of Greenland would people the extremity of NATO.
On Friday (January 9), Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the leaders of the 4 different parties successful the territory's Parliament issued a associated connection reiterating that Greenland's aboriginal indispensable beryllium decided by its radical and emphasising their “wish that the United States' contempt for our state ends”.
Mr. Trump reiterated his statement that the U.S. needs to “take Greenland,” different Russia oregon China would, successful comments aboard Air Force One connected Sunday. He said he'd alternatively “make a deal” for the territory, “but 1 mode oregon the other, we're going to person Greenland.”
China successful 2018 declared itself a “near-Arctic state” successful an effort to summation much power successful the region. Beijing has besides announced plans to physique a “Polar Silk Road” arsenic portion of its planetary Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to make economical links with countries astir the world.
Asked successful Beijing connected Monday (January 12) astir U.S. statements that Washington indispensable instrumentality implicit Greenland to forestall China and Russia from taking control, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning replied that “China's activities successful the Arctic are aimed astatine promoting peace, stability, and sustainable improvement successful the portion and are successful accordance with planetary law.” She didn't elaborate connected those activities.
“The rights and freedoms of each countries to behaviour activities successful the Arctic successful accordance with the instrumentality should beryllium afloat respected,” Ms. Mao said, without mentioning Greenland directly. “The U.S. should not prosecute its ain interests by utilizing different countries arsenic a pretext.”
She added, “The Arctic concerns the wide interests of the planetary community.” Danish and Greenlandic envoys are expected successful Washington this week for talks.
