This BBC headline speaks for itself: “US discussing options to acquire Greenland including using military, White House says.”
I wrote a letter to my Congressman, Lloyd Smucker. I think it says everything that needs to be said.
In 1916, in accordance with the Treaty of the Dutch West Indies, the United States purchased what is now the US Virgin Islands from Denmark for twenty-five million dollars. The United States also renounced any and all territorial claims upon Greenland.
Denmark’s control over Greenland has been a settled issue for nearly 110 years. Yet, in the past few days, the administration has begun again to saber rattle over Greenland. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said a few days ago, “the formal position of the US government that Greenland should be part of the US,” and he did not rule out military options.
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said this afternoon, “to invade Greenland and attack its sovereignty, a fellow NATO country, would be weapons-grade stupid.” Let Senator Kennedy be a guide. Denmark is one of the United States’ oldest and strongest allies. We have military bases on Greenland already. We do not need to own or govern Greenland to see our security needs met. We already have what we need through decades-long cooperation.
A military attack on Greenland to acquire it is unwarranted. A military attack on Greenland is neither desired nor supported by the American people. Congress has not authorized the use of military force against Denmark and Greenland, our long-standing NATO allies.
If the Trump administration launches an attack on Greenland, it will sunder our NATO alliance, and Denmark will be fully justified in invoking Article V to rally NATO allies to fight against the invaders. If Denmark is forced to invoke Article V against the United States, it is with NATO that I stand, not the United States. The Trump administration will have made the United States a pariah state and and rogue nation, all to satisfy his ego and his desire for empire building. More, the Trump administration will have effectively destroyed any moral authority the United States held in the world. Ronald Reagan’s famous “shining city on the hill” will have been reduced to ashes.
Further, if the Trump administration launches military action against Greenland and our NATO allies without Congressional authorization, President Trump will have committed an impeachable act by usurping the power of Congress to declare war. It will be your duty, as a member of the House of Representatives, to draw up and pass articles of impeachment against the lawless leaders of the Trump administration, including President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
I do not support incorporating Greenland into the United States. I do not support military action against Greenland and our NATO allies. In the event of war between the United States and NATO over Greenland, my support lies with Greenland, Denmark, and NATO, not with the United States and her military. I hope you share these feelings.
If President Trump asks for an authorization to use military force against Greenland, I ask that you vote against such an authorization. If President Trump orders the invasion of Greenland without Congressional authorization, I ask that you hold him accountable vocally in the media and legislatively through impeachment and the power of the purse by withholding appropriations to the Pentagon.
Our long-standing European allies are greatly alarmed in recent days. Let’s tone it down and reiterate the importance of the NATO alliance to American foreign policy interests. To repeat what Senator Kennedy said, going to war with our allies over Greenland would be “weapons grade stupid.”
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.