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Republicans introduce bill for US to annex Greenland, Democrats bring counter proposal to block it

On Tuesday, Prime ​Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that Greenland would rather choose Denmark over ‍the United States.

3 min readJan 13, 2026 09:17 PM IST First published on: Jan 13, 2026 at 09:17 PM IST
Republicans introduce bill for US to annex Greenland, Democrats bring counter proposal to block itHouses covered by snow are seen on the coast of a sea inlet of Nuuk, Greenland, on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Jimmy Gomez, the Democratic representative for California’s 34th congressional district has introduced a bill in the US Congress to block President Donald Trump’s attempts to purchase or annex Greenland by force.

Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act

The bill, called the Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act, aims to “prohibit the use of federal funding to facilitate the invasion, annexation, purchase, or other form of acquisition of Greenland, and for other purposes.”

The bill, which was introduced on Monday, has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and to the Committee on Armed Services.

Republicans introduce bill for US to annex Greenland, Democrats bring counter proposal to block it
FILE – A view of houses in Nuuk, Greenland, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha, File)

Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act

The Democratic bill is a counterproposal to another legislation, which was also introduced on Monday, by a Republican lawmaker to authorise the US acquisition of Greenland.

Randy Fine, the Republican Congressman from Florida’s 6th congressional district, on Monday introduced a bill titled the “Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act,” that would authorise Trump to “take such steps as may be necessary” to acquire the Danish-controlled island territory.

Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is back in focus following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

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US proposal to acquire Greenland

Trump, who first made the proposal to buy the world’s largest island from Denmark during his first term, repeated his proposal, following his presidential election win in 2024. Trump, who insisted that the US should acquire Greenland for national security, has also refused to rule out the use of force.

While some hardline Republicans have rallied around Trump, the proposal has been met with bipartisan opposition in the US.

Both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly said that the island was not up for sale.

‘Would rather choose Denmark’

On Tuesday, Prime ​Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that Greenland would rather choose Denmark over ‍the United States.

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Republicans introduce bill for US to annex Greenland, Democrats bring counter proposal to block it
Chairman of the Naalakkersuisut, Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, right, give a statement on the current situation at a press conference in the Mirror Hall at the Prime Minister’s Office in Copenhagen, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

“We face a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the US and Denmark here and now then we choose Denmark,” Nielsen said during a joint press conference in Copenhagen with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “We stand united ​in the Kingdom of Denmark.”

The comments came ahead of the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers’ meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.

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