U.S. lawmakers to visit Denmark as Trump continues to threaten Greenland

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is headed to Copenhagen later this week in an attempt to show unity between the United States and Denmark as President Donald Trump continues to threaten to seize Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of the NATO ally.

Senator Chris Coons is leading the trip of at least nine members of Congress, including Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

The group will be in Copenhagen on Friday (January 9, 2026) and Saturday (January 10, 2026), according to a congressional aide familiar with the trip’s planning. The lawmakers will meet with high-level Danish and Greenlandic government officials and business leaders, according to the aide, granted anonymity ahead of a formal announcement.

The trip comes as China said Monday (January 13, 2026) that the U.S. shouldn’t use other countries as a “pretext” to pursue its interests in Greenland and said that its activities in the Arctic comply with international law

The comment by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson came in response to a question at a regular daily briefing. Mr. Trump has said that he would like to make a deal to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous region of NATO ally Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from taking it over.

Tensions have escalated between Washington, Denmark, and Greenland this month as Mr. Trump and his administration push the issue and the White House considers a range of options, including military force, to acquire the vast Arctic island.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO.

On Friday (January 9), Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the leaders of the four other parties in the territory’s Parliament issued a joint statement reiterating that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people and emphasising their “wish that the United States’ contempt for our country ends”.

Mr. Trump reiterated his argument that the U.S. needs to “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would, in comments aboard Air Force One on Sunday. He said he’d rather “make a deal” for the territory, “but one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”

China in 2018 declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in an effort to gain more influence in the region. Beijing has also announced plans to build a “Polar Silk Road” as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to create economic links with countries around the world.

Asked in Beijing on Monday (January 12) about U.S. statements that Washington must take over Greenland to prevent China and Russia from taking control, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning replied that “China’s activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and are in accordance with international law.” She didn’t elaborate on those activities.

“The rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law should be fully respected,” Ms. Mao said, without mentioning Greenland directly. “The U.S. should not pursue its own interests by using other countries as a pretext.”

She added, “The Arctic concerns the overall interests of the international community.” Danish and Greenlandic envoys are expected in Washington this week for talks.