Select Committee Democratic Members Warn Trump’s Imperialism Against Greenland and Alienation of NATO Are a Gift to Beijing
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, along with Committee Democratic Members Representatives Khanna (CA-17), Brown (OH-11), Castor (FL-14), Moulton (MA-06), Stanton (AZ-09), Stevens (MI-11), Tokuda (HI-02), and Torres (NY-15) issued the following statement condemning President Trump’s recent undiplomatic approach toward Greenland, Denmark, and other NATO allies:
“As Members of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), we condemn in the strongest terms the Administration’s recent undiplomatic approach toward Greenland, Denmark, and other NATO allies to accept his demands. Despite an apparent walk-back of threats, President Trump’s actions are no way to conduct foreign policy. As statements from NATO leaders in Davos make clear, the Administration’s threats have alienated our transatlantic partners and undermined one of history’s most stabilizing alliances, making Americans less safe and ceding strategic leverage to our foremost adversary—the CCP.
Over the course of one year, the second Trump administration has single-handedly destroyed trust within NATO, which is critical in America’s global deterrence strategy. The President’s initial comments about forcibly acquiring Greenland not only represent an existential threat to American leadership in NATO; they dangerously copy the CCP’s authoritarian playbook of economic coercion, hegemonic bullying, and territorial expansionism.
While China’s Arctic ambitions and chokehold on critical minerals present challenges, it is incumbent on the United States to work alongside—not against—our allies to address such problems. As the CCP seeks to upend global peace and stability, NATO is a critical element in deterring conflict. Canada and our European allies have taken meaningful steps to expand deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Any perceived frailty in America’s commitment to NATO sows doubt in our Indo-Pacific alliances and invites aggression across the Taiwan Strait, in the South China Sea, and beyond.
The President’s comments over Greenland were harmful, myopic, and in violation of our NATO obligations. In no world should a President threaten the territory of an ally which America is sworn to protect, and which itself has made sacrifices on behalf of America.
We call on President Trump to reaffirm our commitment to NATO and the value of our allies to solve shared challenges like the CCP. For the sake of the rules-based order, America must remain the world’s alliance superpower."