US Senators Introduce Bill to Prevent Trump Seizure of Greenland Territory

US Senators Introduce Bill to Prevent Funding for NATO Territory Occupation

A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the US Senate aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from seizing territory belonging to a NATO member state. The NATO Unity Protection Act would bar funding for actions that could “blockade, occupy, annex or otherwise assert control” over the territory of any NATO member state.

The bill was authored by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Lisa Murkowski. It comes amid concerns over Trump’s repeated statements suggesting that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, should be brought under US control using force if necessary.

According to the bill’s authors, it would “make clear that US taxpayer dollars cannot be used for actions that would fracture NATO and violate our own commitments to NATO.” The legislation also aims to send a message that Trump’s rhetoric on Greenland undermines America’s national security interests.

The 32-member NATO security alliance is seen as a key defense against efforts to undermine global peace and stability. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, have expressed opposition to US control of the territory, stating that they would choose Denmark and NATO over any potential US involvement.

The bill has bipartisan support in Congress, with many lawmakers opposing Trump’s stance on Greenland. A delegation of US lawmakers is set to arrive in Denmark for talks with local officials, while Danish officials are scheduled to meet with their US counterparts in Washington, DC.

A recent survey commissioned by the Danish paper Berlingske found that 85% of Greenland’s residents do not wish to join the US, with just 6% in favor. The vast majority of the territory’s 57,000 residents have expressed opposition to US control.

Source: Al Jazeera