US Senate weighs banning military occupation of NATO allies' territory — FT
Illustrative photo: US Congress (Getty Images)
The US Senate has introduced a bill that would prohibit the US military from occupying any NATO ally's territories. This primarily concerns Greenland, which the Trump administration has set its sights on, according to the Financial Times.
The bill prohibits the Pentagon and the US State Department from using public funds allocated by Congress for blockading, occupying, annexing, conducting military operations against the territory of a NATO member state, or otherwise establishing control over it.
The authors of the document are Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski. The bill itself appeared against the backdrop of senators from both parties expressing concern over Trump's desire to establish control over Greenland.
Murkowski says US' NATO alliances are what distinguish the United States from its adversaries. She adds that the very idea that America would use its vast resources against its allies is deeply troubling and should be rejected outright by Congress through legislation.
At the same time, legislative opposition to Trump's encroachments is being prepared not only in the Senate. In the US House of Representatives, a similar bill was introduced on January 12 by a bipartisan group led by Democratic Congressman Bill Keating.
Trump and Greenland
Trump has recently begun to speak more often about his desire for Greenland to become part of the United States, claiming that this is necessary for defense against Russia and China. At the same time, Trump spoke disparagingly about Greenland's defense, saying that it was two dog sled teams.
After that, Trump supporters in Congress immediately introduced a bill on the annexation of Greenland. But Trump's statements caused strong outrage both in Greenland itself and in Europe. NATO is preparing options to defend Greenland from the US.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen said that the island rejected the option of joining the United States and prefers to remain in alliance with Denmark. In response, Trump lashed out at Nielsen, saying that he would have big problems.
