The delegation concludes a two-day visit to Copenhagen on Saturday with the aim of protesting President Donald Trump's proposal to buy Greenland.
We strive to find a way forward in this situation that strengthens the 225-year-old partnership and alliance between the people of the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States, Coons said during a meeting with the press and continued:
There are no immediate security threats to Greenland, but we share a real concern for security in the Arctic going forward as the climate changes, sea ice retreats, and shipping routes change.
Contact Rubio
Coons says they have heard the concerns of the Danish and Greenlandic populations and that "the current tone and pace of the statements about acquisitions are not constructive."
"I think I speak for all senators and members here when I say that we deeply value NATO and this 80-year-old alliance."
Coons further says that the delegation will "possibly" contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Not a question of party politics”
The delegation has been described by experts as "weak" when it comes to being able to apply pressure because it only consists of two Republicans who have previously made themselves known for opposing the US president.
One of the two Republicans in the delegation, Lisa Murkowski, says that support for allies should not be a matter of partisan politics and that many Republican leaders call the claim to Greenland unacceptable.
Murkowski tells TT that as a senator for the state of Alaska, she has been quite alone in her focus on the Arctic - until recently. According to her, the current US administration did not mention the Arctic once in its national security strategy six months ago.
"When you think about our national security and how we manage it in an Arctic environment, we are at our best when we cooperate with our partners, and our partners in this matter are our friends and allies in NATO," she says.
