Legislators: Take a Historic, Bipartisan Stand with Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Your Fellow Lawmakers on Greenland, Denmark, and International Alliance
Join your fellow Republicans taking an unequivocal stand on honoring NATO and our allies
“America’s recognition of Denmark’s political and economic interests in Greenland dates back to World War I. The Danes have been close partners in the Arctic since World War II. And brave Danish soldiers fought and died in America’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Kentucky Republican and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reminded Americans and our elected officials on January 14, 2026.
“There is no ambiguity here. Close ties with our northernmost allies are what make America’s extensive reach in the Arctic possible. And I have yet to hear from this administration a single thing we need from Greenland that this sovereign people is not already willing to grant us.”
The senator, who currently serves as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee called out the inaccuracy of MAGA’s national security claims and the consequences of pursuing its reckless ambition for Greenland.
McConnell’s assertions are paramount. And they parallel the concerns of the bipartisan envoy of eight legislators that traveled to Copenhagen for discussions with Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
“Unless and until the President can demonstrate otherwise, then the proposition at hand today is very straightforward: incinerating the hard-won trust of loyal allies in exchange for no meaningful change in U.S. access to the Arctic.”
Addressing the Senate, McConnell also noted that the original concerns about NATO countries relying disproportionately on the U.S. to fund and protect Arctic security are no longer an issue.
“This year, Poland will spend 4.8% of its GDP on defense. Estonia and Lithuania will spend 5%, and Latvia will hit that goal in 2027. Alongside Nordic neighbors like Norway and Denmark, who have deployed to harm’s way alongside American comrades, NATO’s newest members, Sweden and Finland, are each on track to meet the alliance’s new spending target years ahead of schedule,” he elaborated.
He specifically acknowledged Denmark for “investing billions of dollars in its own capabilities in the region” and all the European countries outspending the U.S. in defending Ukraine from the ongoing Russian invasion. “European allies are continuing to dwarf America’s assistance to Ukraine … by a factor of 10 to 1.”
When the entire pretense of taking Greenland is regional security to protect the U.S. from Russian invasion, perhaps we should increase our defense spending in a country Russia is actually invading?
“Courting Russia and its GDP of 2.5 trillion dollars at the expense of longstanding bonds with Europe and its GDP of 27 trillion dollars? That doesn’t even align with U.S. economic interests, let alone our values,” McConnell pointed out.
Making diplomatic decisions based on quantifiable economic incentives is not as noble as respecting and continuing to partner with our longtime allies, but even officials willing to “incinerate” the trust of our allies might be convinced to act in their own economic best interest.
As thousands of demonstrators took to the capital streets of Nuuk and Copenhagen to protest Trump’s escalating threats against Greenland, Trump decided to threaten any European country defending Greenland or Denmark with tariffs. Rage-tweeting from his Florida golf course, not officially announcing from the White House, Trump threatened the eight countries currently supporting Greenland with a 10% tariff. And if they still haven’t bent to his will, for “the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland” by June 1, 2026, the tariffs will increase to 25%.
Elected legislators, your constituents do not want a trade war any more than they want a unilateral military invasion of a sovereign nation that betrays seven decades of friendship with an entire continent.
“Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole,” European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote in a joint statement. “Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.”
“America’s adversaries are collaborating with one another. Responding by going it alone would be strategic malpractice,” McConnell warned with an understatement.
To be clear, a flagrant violation of Article V of NATO is more than “strategic malpractice,” it is a unilaterally destabilizing betrayal of our historic political partners in peacekeeping.
As European Council President António Costa said, “ … multilateralism is not a vague word - it is the basis of our global engagement. A multipolar world needs multilateral solutions.”
And so, elected officials of both parties, you have more than just a choice: you have a moral obligation, a higher calling. The American people and our good neighbors around the world implore you to be an integral part of these multilateral solutions: with our friends and allies.
Reciprocate the extraordinary diplomacy Greenland and Denmark are extending to us despite the inexcusable threats our current administration is making.
Democratic and Republican legislators, you can unanimously vote yes on the bipartisan No Funds for NATO Invasion Act:
Prohibit any federal funds from being made available for the invasion of a NATO member state or any territory protected by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Prohibit any officer or employee of the United States from taking any action to execute an invasion of a NATO member state or any territory protected by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
You can unanimously vote yes on the bipartisan NATO Unity Protection Act:
Affirm that the unified strength of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is critical to U.S. national security and foreign policy;
Recognize that any occupation or takeover of the sovereign territory of a NATO ally would violate the U.N. Charter and the North Atlantic Treaty;
Prohibit the use of Department of Defense funds to blockade, occupy, annex, conduct military operations against or otherwise assert control over the sovereign territory of a NATO member state without that state’s authorization or approval by the North Atlantic Council;
Prohibit the use of Department of State funds to develop, support or implement plans for such actions against a NATO member state;
Clarify that nothing in the Act limits the ability of the United States to defend itself or an ally against an armed attack or a credible threat of imminent attack.
As Senate Majority Leader McConnell said of the U.S.’s significant investments in NATO, once 37% of our GDP: “The American people knew the costs of war. And they knew they’d rather preserve the peace.”
Elected officials, now is your moment in time. You are being called to preserve our peace. History will remember your names. Whether you are remembered honorably or dishonorably is your decision.
Take the courageous and historic bipartisan stand.
Read the full text of Senate Majority Leader McConnell’s speech here.