The US is talking about a 51st state: what does the Greenland initiative mean
13 January 00:46
Republican Randy Fine, a member of the US House of Representatives, has introduced a bill to Congress on the “annexation of Greenland.” This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Fox News.
What is the essence of the bill?
The bill, which Fain introduced on Monday, does not automatically make Greenland a state. Its purpose is to give the president the authority to “take all necessary steps” to voluntarily annex the territory to the United States.
According to the congressman, the final decision on granting statehood will still remain with Congress, as required by the US Constitution.
The document only politically and legally confirms Congress’s support for the president’s actions at the initial stage.
“Congress will still have to decide on granting it statehood, but this bill will simply authorize the president to do what he is doing now and show that Congress supports him. This will speed up the path to statehood, but the final decision will still rest with Congress,” Fain explained.
Why Trump is talking about Greenland again
The idea of annexing Greenland is not new. Donald Trump publicly promoted it during his first presidential term. The argument remains the same:
- the island’s strategic location between North America and Russia;
- the presence of important critical minerals;
- its importance for the security of the Arctic region and NATO.
According to Republicans, these factors make Greenland a matter of US national security.
The position of the initiative’s supporters
Randy Fine said he believes that American sovereignty over Greenland is beneficial not only for the US, but also for the island’s inhabitants themselves.
“The poverty rate in Greenland is significantly higher than in Denmark. Denmark was unable to protect them during the war. Who defended Greenland in World War II? The United States,” the congressman emphasized.
He also stressed that the best way forward is voluntary accession, without the use of force.
Is a forceful scenario possible?
Concern among US lawmakers grew after the White House press secretary did not completely rule out a military option if the situation escalated. However, Fain himself distances himself from such a scenario.
“I believe that the best way to get Greenland is voluntarily,” he said.
How a new US state is legally created
According to the US Constitution:
- Congress passes a law establishing the territory.
- The territory drafts its own constitution.
- The constitution must be approved by the residents.
- Congress votes again to accept the new state.
- The decision is approved by the president.
This means that even if the initiative is successful, the process could take years.
Reaction from Denmark and Greenland
Previously, Greenland’s leadership publicly rejected the idea of coming under US control, emphasizing the right to self-determination. Denmark has also repeatedly stated that the island is not for sale.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced talks with Danish officials on Greenland, indicating that the issue will continue to be pursued diplomatically.
