Copenhagen, 16 January 2026 (dpa/MIA) — A bipartisan US delegation has criticized President Donald Trump's stated desire to take control of Greenland during a visit to Denmark, urging Washington to treat the Arctic territory as an ally rather than a strategic asset.

"Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset," said Republican US Senator Lisa Murkowski at a press conference Friday in the Danish parliament building in Copenhagen.

Murkowski, other senators and members of the US House of Representatives had previously met with parliamentarians from Denmark and Greenland.

A meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen was also on the delegation's agenda.

Murkowski, who sits in the Senate for the US state of Alaska, is known for being one of the few Republicans from Trump's party who does not shy away from a confrontation with him.

She is also one of the lawmakers behind a bill that would prohibit the Trump administration from annexing, occupying or exercising control over a NATO ally's territory without its consent.

Greenland, a largely autonomous Arctic territory, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which is a member of NATO.

Trump has repeatedly said the United States needed to seize the island for its national security, arguing that it was necessary to prevent Russia and China from expanding their influence in the region.

The delegation plan to take their perspectives back to the US to "lower the temperature" in the currently heated debate, said Democratic Senator Chris Coons from Delaware.

Alluding to one of the reasons Trump gives for the need for the US to take over Greenland, Coons said, "Are there real pressing threats to the security of Greenland from China and Russia? No, not today."