U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) has introduced legislation that would authorize the annexation of Greenland and set the stage for it to become the 51st state, following renewed interest from President Donald Trump in acquiring the Danish territory.
The proposal, titled the “Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act,” was introduced Monday, according to a press release from Fine’s office. The bill’s stated purpose is to enable “the annexation and subsequent admission to statehood of Greenland,” citing national security and strategic interests in the Arctic.
“Greenland is not a distant outpost we can afford to ignore—it is a vital national security asset,” Fine said in the release. “Whoever controls Greenland controls key Arctic shipping lanes and the security architecture protecting the United States.”
“America cannot leave that future in the hands of regimes that despise our values and seek to undermine our security,” he added.
Under the bill, President Trump would be authorized to take “such steps as may be necessary,” including entering negotiations with the Kingdom of Denmark, to annex or otherwise acquire Greenland as a U.S. territory. After acquisition, the president would be required to submit a report to Congress outlining potential changes to federal law needed to admit Greenland as a state.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that there is currently no set timeline for any U.S. action regarding Greenland but confirmed the issue remains a priority for the administration.
“[Trump] has not set a timeline, but it’s definitely a priority for him,” Leavitt told reporters.
She said the president believes U.S. involvement is necessary to prevent other global powers from gaining influence over the territory.
“He said that he wants to see the United States acquire Greenland because he feels if we do not, then it will eventually be acquired or even perhaps hostilely taken over by either China or Russia,” Leavitt said.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who warned that any attempt to take Greenland by force would have severe international consequences.
“It would be the end of NATO,” Murphy said Sunday during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has long held strategic importance due to its location in the Arctic, its natural resources, and its proximity to major global powers. Denmark has previously rejected U.S. overtures to purchase the territory, calling such proposals unacceptable.
Source: The Hill