Senator Shaheen

An American military takeover of Greenland would threaten NATO as we know it.

And even short of that, just the suggestion that the U.S.

would take Greenland by force does real damage not just to the relationship with Greenland, with Denmark, but to America's own national security.

It erodes decades of hard-won confidence among allies, and it weakens the sense of security that comes with it.

And that rhetoric plays right into the hands of our greatest adversaries, Russia and China.

Vladimir Putin would welcome any move that fractures NATO or diverts attention and resources away from Ukraine.

It's a point that your prime minister made again when we met with her this morning, and she's made very eloquently over a period of time.

If we're serious about limiting Russia's influence in the Arctic and beyond, the most effective way to do that is by defeating Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.

And that's precisely why the current debate over Greenland makes so little sense.

As your prime minister and Greenlandic officials have said, if the United States wants to

do certain things in Greenland, whether it's build more military bases, develop the critical minerals that are there.

All we have to do is partner with you all.

That's been made very clear.

We've had a standing treaty with Greenland dating back to 1951.

And as many of you know, the United States once operated 17 bases in Greenland.

As I said, my father was stationed there in World War II.

It was the United States that determined that we were going to close those 16 other bases.

So whether it's U.S.

bases to defend against Arctic threats or critical mineral deals, your leaders here in Denmark and in Greenland have made clear that they want to partner with us.

So I think the threats are not only unnecessary, they are counterproductive.