Trump is eyeing Greenland; some Republicans are upset: If the U.S. tramples the sovereignty of its allies to win against China and Russia, it will lose.

【Wen / Observers Network, Wang Yi】The opposition to the Trump administration's desire for Greenland is continuing to escalate in the United States and Europe. Denmark and Greenland have requested a meeting and emphasized that "anything involving Greenland cannot be decided without Greenland's participation." Mitch McConnell, former Republican leader of the U.S. Senate and a federal senator known as a prominent opponent of Trump, warned that if the United States acts as if winning the competition with China and Russia requires trampling on the sovereignty of allies, "we will definitely lose this competition."

The UK's Financial Times reported on January 8 that U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated on January 7 at the Capitol that he plans to directly dialogue with Denmark next week regarding matters concerning Greenland.

In response to the White House's previous stance that it "does not rule out" using military force to seize Greenland, Rubio said that as a diplomat, "we always prefer to solve problems through other means," but all past U.S. presidents have kept the option of using military force to address what they consider national security threats.

The request for this meeting was made by Denmark and Greenland. Greenland's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Research, Vivian Motzfeldt, confirmed to Danish Broadcasting Corporation that she would attend the meeting and clearly stated, "Nothing involving Greenland can be decided without Greenland's participation."

After the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the forced removal of President Maduro, Trump once again brought his desire for Greenland to the forefront, openly declaring, "We do need Greenland, absolutely need it."

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed on January 6 that, despite opposition from Europe, Trump still has ambitions to control this strategic island, and senior government officials are discussing potential options for "buying Greenland." She also claimed that Trump considers this a top priority for U.S. national security, arguing that it is crucial for "deterring hostile forces in the Arctic region."

However, Leavitt also admitted that Greenland belongs to Denmark, which is a NATO ally, and Trump remains committed to NATO and its collective defense mechanisms, stating, "even if they don't support us, we will always support NATO." But she did not rule out the possibility of military intervention, saying that when weighing America's greatest interests, "all options are always on the table," though diplomatic means remain the "preferred choice."

This statement caused strong unease among European allies. A spokesperson for the European Commission told the Financial Times that the national security of certain countries cannot, and has never been able to, come at the expense of another country's sovereignty, especially among long-standing allied nations. EU Commission President von der Leyen also publicly addressed the issue on January 7, stating, "Cooperation beats confrontation, and the rule of law beats force. These principles apply not only to our EU, but also to Greenland."

The Trump administration's targeting of allies has also sparked opposition within the Republican Party. Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who has repeatedly criticized Trump's foreign policy, warned that the Arctic region could shape the U.S. strategic competition with Russia and China over the next few decades. "But if the U.S. behaves as if winning this competition requires trampling on the sovereignty, respect, and trust of our allies, we will inevitably lose."

According to CNN, the retiring North Carolina Republican Senator Tom Tillis delivered an intense speech on January 7, criticizing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's remarks about "Greenland should become part of the United States" as "amateurish" and "ridiculous," and urged Trump to fire those who proposed such suggestions.

Video screenshot of North Carolina Republican Senator Tom Tillis being interviewed by CNN

"I've had enough of stupid things," Tillis said. "These nonsense around Greenland distract from the beneficial work the president is doing. People who think this is a good idea should lose their jobs."

Miller questioned Denmark's claim of sovereignty over Greenland on CNN on January 5, asking, "What is the basis for them treating Greenland as a Danish colony?" and claiming that "Greenland should become part of the United States."

Tillis stated that Miller does not speak for the U.S. government, saying, "He claims the U.S. government obviously believes Greenland should belong to the United States, which is ridiculous." Tillis attacked these "crazy statements," shamelessly claiming that they "disgraced" the "excellent mission" carried out by the U.S. military in Venezuela. "Ladies and gentlemen, the amateur hour is over, you cannot represent U.S. senators or Congress."