US lawmakers from both parties visit Denmark to address the Greenland sovereignty dispute, which has shaken Parliament and the gold market.
2026-01-13 13:24:31
A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers is scheduled to visit Denmark this week in a direct response to President Donald Trump’s continued threats to take over Greenland. The visit underscores the growing division between the White House and Congress over the strategically important, mineral-rich Arctic territory, an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark and home to a U.S. Air Force base.
The congressional delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, includes Republican Senator Tom Tillis, as well as Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin. Several members of the House of Representatives will also join the delegation, which plans to spend Friday and Saturday in Copenhagen.
This trip comes as lawmakers from both parties anticipate a Senate vote on a bill that would limit Trump's ability to seize Greenland from longtime U.S. ally Denmark.
President Trump has repeatedly stated that Washington must have Greenland, believing that the current U.S. military presence there is insufficient.
Trump once said, "We're going to take Greenland no matter what." However, he added that he preferred to negotiate an agreement with Denmark.
This stance has been strongly opposed by Greenland and Denmark, both of which have made it clear that Greenland is not for sale. Nevertheless, Trump has not ruled out the possibility of using force. Officials from Denmark and the United States plan to meet this week to address this escalating issue.
The president’s remarks have raised alarms in Congress, with lawmakers expressing concern about the impact on their crucial coalition.
Senator Tillis, a Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, "As co-chair of the Senate NATO Observers Group, I believe it is crucial that Congress unite in support of our allies and respect the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland."
Senator Durbin echoed these views, adding that Trump's "continued threats against Greenland are unnecessary and will only weaken our NATO alliance."
This controversy has sparked legislative action in the House of Representatives, with two competing bills currently being introduced.
The Greenland Incorporation and Statehood Act: Introduced by Republican Representative Randy Finn, this bill would grant President Trump the power to annex Greenland.
The Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act: A competing proposal introduced by Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez to prevent any federal funds from being used to finance the takeover of Greenland.
These legislative efforts highlight the deep political divisions stemming from Trump's foreign policy approach. Concerns were heightened earlier this month when the president ordered a deadly military raid on Venezuela to capture ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.
The Trump administration's territorial claims and military threats against Greenland have directly triggered a sovereignty crisis within NATO and a political divide within the United States.
This event boosted gold prices through a dual path of "geopolitical risk premium" and "systemic safe-haven demand": In the short term, if the crisis remains at the diplomatic game stage, gold will receive mild support; if it escalates to legislative confrontation or military deterrence, gold prices will receive significant upward drive; once an actual conflict breaks out, gold will start a surge.
On Tuesday (January 13) during Asian trading hours, spot gold fluctuated around $4,595 per ounce, a relatively high historical level. The previous trading day, gold prices touched a record high of $4,630.08 per ounce, prompting a short-term consolidation. Geopolitical risks are expected to continue supporting the bullish bias for gold prices, and short-term consolidation does not change the long-term trend.
(Spot gold daily chart, source: FX678)
At 13:24 Beijing time, spot gold was trading at $4597.34 per ounce.
Delegations from both parties will travel to Copenhagen
The congressional delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, includes Republican Senator Tom Tillis, as well as Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin. Several members of the House of Representatives will also join the delegation, which plans to spend Friday and Saturday in Copenhagen.
This trip comes as lawmakers from both parties anticipate a Senate vote on a bill that would limit Trump's ability to seize Greenland from longtime U.S. ally Denmark.
Trump's ambitions for Arctic territories
President Trump has repeatedly stated that Washington must have Greenland, believing that the current U.S. military presence there is insufficient.
Trump once said, "We're going to take Greenland no matter what." However, he added that he preferred to negotiate an agreement with Denmark.
This stance has been strongly opposed by Greenland and Denmark, both of which have made it clear that Greenland is not for sale. Nevertheless, Trump has not ruled out the possibility of using force. Officials from Denmark and the United States plan to meet this week to address this escalating issue.
NATO and the US alliance face high risks
The president’s remarks have raised alarms in Congress, with lawmakers expressing concern about the impact on their crucial coalition.
Senator Tillis, a Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, "As co-chair of the Senate NATO Observers Group, I believe it is crucial that Congress unite in support of our allies and respect the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland."
Senator Durbin echoed these views, adding that Trump's "continued threats against Greenland are unnecessary and will only weaken our NATO alliance."
Competing bills emerge in Congress
This controversy has sparked legislative action in the House of Representatives, with two competing bills currently being introduced.
The Greenland Incorporation and Statehood Act: Introduced by Republican Representative Randy Finn, this bill would grant President Trump the power to annex Greenland.
The Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act: A competing proposal introduced by Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez to prevent any federal funds from being used to finance the takeover of Greenland.
These legislative efforts highlight the deep political divisions stemming from Trump's foreign policy approach. Concerns were heightened earlier this month when the president ordered a deadly military raid on Venezuela to capture ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.
Analysis of the impact on the gold market
The Trump administration's territorial claims and military threats against Greenland have directly triggered a sovereignty crisis within NATO and a political divide within the United States.
This event boosted gold prices through a dual path of "geopolitical risk premium" and "systemic safe-haven demand": In the short term, if the crisis remains at the diplomatic game stage, gold will receive mild support; if it escalates to legislative confrontation or military deterrence, gold prices will receive significant upward drive; once an actual conflict breaks out, gold will start a surge.
On Tuesday (January 13) during Asian trading hours, spot gold fluctuated around $4,595 per ounce, a relatively high historical level. The previous trading day, gold prices touched a record high of $4,630.08 per ounce, prompting a short-term consolidation. Geopolitical risks are expected to continue supporting the bullish bias for gold prices, and short-term consolidation does not change the long-term trend.
(Spot gold daily chart, source: FX678)
At 13:24 Beijing time, spot gold was trading at $4597.34 per ounce.
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