U.S. Congress Sidesteps Greenland Debate in Defense Spending Bill

The text of the final package of fiscal 2026 spending bills, which includes the all-important defense spending measure, did not include any mention of NATO or Greenland when it was released Tuesday by senior Republican and Democratic negotiators from the House and Senate.

Specifically, the legislation contained no prohibition on the use of federal funds to attack a NATO ally, as Trump repeatedly seemed to threaten to do this month with regards to Denmark, in addition to threatening tariffs against European countries that oppose his push to acquire Greenland.

Notably, Trump appeared to take the threat of military force to acquire Greenland off the table, saying “people thought I would use force. But I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

Even so, the lack of any handcuffs in the latest defense legislation on Trump’s ability to use the military to seize Greenland is striking for the fact that multiple strong Republican critics of his Greenland policy are top congressional appropriators.

It is still possible that U.S. lawmakers, particularly in the Senate, will use the amendment process to try to secure floor votes on Trump’s ability to use the military or other measures short of force to seize Greenland. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego has already introduced such an amendment.

PS: The article was published on Jan 21. The House of Representatives approved the bill on Jan 22 and sent it to the Senate. The Senate might vote next week.