In brief
Trump's desire to acquire Greenland is meeting resistance from both Democrats and some Republicans in Congress. Lawmakers are wary of the implications for U.S. foreign policy and NATO. The administration's tactics, including potential tariffs on countries that oppose the takeover, face bipartisan backlash.
President Donald Trump's push to acquire Greenland has sparked a backlash from Republicans in Congress, as lawmakers voice growing concern about US military interventions overseas.But it remains unclear if enough Republicans are willing to join Democrats to block a takeover of the island territory - and whether Trump would bow to pressure from Congress, or act alone as he's done several times in a second term marked by growing American entanglements abroad.The focus on Greenland has grown into a broader discussion over the Trump administration's unilateral use of military force, along with diplomatic and economic coercion, to project power in Venezuela, Iran and elsewhere around the world.Republicans have largely backed Trump's foreign policy agenda since he returned to the White House. But now, a growing number are siding with Democrats in Congress and NATO allies who say a takeover of Greenland would violate US and international law.In recent days, some Republican leaders have said there's little interest in the US buying Greenland or seizing it through military force. The White House had previously left the military option on the table but ruled it out by Trump in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.Trump's insistence on obtaining the territory is increasingly unpopular on Capitol Hill, as more Republicans have come forward to break ranks publicly. Lawmakers worried about a military incursion in Greenland have signalled support for measures prohibiting any US action without congressional approval. With Congress holding the power of the purse, any move to acquire Greenland would ultimately require their consent, making the situation complex for Trump as bipartisan skepticism grows.
