A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation Tuesday to prevent the use of federal funds for occupying, annexing, or asserting control over territory belonging to NATO members, including Greenland.
The NATO Unity Protection Act, led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), would prohibit the Departments of State and Defense from spending money on efforts to claim territory of any NATO ally.
The proposal follows remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting the United States should seek control of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump has argued that Greenland is strategically important to U.S. national security and expressed concern that China or Russia could seek influence there.
“This bipartisan legislation makes clear that U.S. taxpayer dollars cannot be used for actions that would fracture NATO and violate our own commitments to NATO,” Shaheen said.
Murkowski said the measure affirms support for NATO and rejects using U.S. “resources against our allies.”
Jessica Peake, an international law scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the bill could limit unilateral presidential action and protect U.S. commitments to NATO. Still, she noted that Trump has previously challenged congressional authority.
Greenland officials reiterated their position in response to the proposal. “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark,” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Tuesday at a news conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.
Nielsen added that Greenland supports NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the European Union.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt are scheduled to meet Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance to discuss the situation.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), will visit Denmark Friday for additional talks.
A 2023 poll commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske showed opposition to U.S. control among Greenland residents, with 85% against and 6% in favor.
