Randy Fine, the U.S. representative whose district includes all of Flagler and part of Volusia County, has introduced a bill authorizing the annexation of Greenland into the United States. The bill would give congressional approval to President Donald Trump to acquire Greenland by taking “such steps as are necessary”. Fine called his legislation the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act.
The move comes as tension increases between the United States and Denmark, who have controlled the Arctic territory for hundreds of years. Unification with Denmark took place in 1814, followed by home rule being established in 1979. President Trump has repeatedly insisted that the United States will acquire Greenland, a claim which the Danish government has consistently rebuffed.
Tensions with Denmark
“Greenland is not a distant outpost we can afford to ignore—it is a vital national security asset,” Fine said in an announcement for his bill. “Whoever controls Greenland controls key Arctic shipping lanes and the security architecture protecting the United States. America cannot leave that future in the hands of regimes that despise our values and seek to undermine our security.”
Though Fine seemingly suggests that the Danish government ‘despises our values’, Denmark and the United States are allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Since Trump’s threats of annexation – made without promising not to use military force – have begun, has drawn troops from multiple European Union countries to deploy to Greenland in anticipation of an American occupation. The militaries of France, Finland and Sweden are on the ground ready to assist in maintaining Denmark’s control over Greenland.
While military tensions escalate, diplomatic talks continue to attempt to reach a peaceful resolution. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with officials from Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday, with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen calling the talks ‘frank’ but ‘productive’.
Greenland: The 51st State?
Should Fine’s legislation be successful in pre-empting the annexation of Greenland as a U.S. territory, he also seeks to see it made the 51st state. His bill reads: “Upon completion of such annexation or acquisition, the President shall submit to Congress a report consisting of such changes to Federal law as the President may determine necessary to admit the newly acquired territory as a State, in order to expedite congressional approval of such statehood for Greenland after the adoption of a constitution that Congress determines to be republican in form and in conformity with the Constitution of the United States.”
Should Greenland indeed become the 51st U.S. state, it would be by far the least populous in the union. A 2025 population estimate for Greenland came out to 56,831. The current least populated state is Wyoming, which has 587,618 residents as of July 2024 – over ten times as many as Greenland. Also outnumbering Greenland are several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico (3,203,295) the District of Columbia (702,250), Guam (153,836), the U.S. Virgin Islands (87,146).
On the local level, Greenland is under half as populated as Flagler County (115,378). Volusia County outnumbers it even further at 602,772 residents. This would make Flagler County twice as populous as Greenland and Volusia County over ten times as populous. Despite this, Greenland as a state would have two U.S. senators and one at-large House representative.
Other Lawmakers Weigh In
The efforts of President Trump and allies such as Randy Fine to acquire Greenland have received mixed feedback among the U.S. Congress. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska called for Greenland to be regarded as “our ally, not as an asset.” Stronger words yet came from other GOP lawmakers: Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina promised a Senate veto of any illegal taking of Greenland, while Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska referred to Trump’s push as “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Even the foremost Senate Republican, Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, has shied from some of Trump’s language. “There’s certainly not an appetite here for some of the options that have been talked about or considered,” he said recently.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has been less willing to openly disavow the notion of a military capture of Greenland, but has tried to relieve pressure behind the topic. “There’s no declaration of war pending for Greenland,” Johnson said. “It’s just not a thing. I don’t anticipate any boots on the ground anywhere, anytime soon.”
Opposing Randy Fine’s bill is a bipartisan piece introduced by Sen. Murkowski and Democrat Ruben Gallego of Arizona, as well as Rep. Bacon and Ro Khanna of California. Their bill is a nonbinding measure (unlike Fine’s which creates authorization) to disavow Trump’s desire to take Greenland.
The Bigger Picture
Congressman Fine claims that annexing Greenland would be a move to counteract foreign policy aggression from China and Russia. Both these global superpowers are currently in their own territorial disputes, as China maintains its hold over Hong Kong and Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. According to Fine, the United States acquiring Greenland from Denmark would prevent its enemies from doing so instead.
“For too long, American leadership stood by while our adversaries chipped away at our geopolitical dominance,” Fine continued. “My bill will protect our homeland, secure our economic future, and ensure that America—not China or Russia—sets the rules in the Arctic. That is what American leadership and strength look like.”
The United States Space Force currently operates Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, under an agreement with the Danish government. Colonel Susannah Meyers was relieved of her command over Pituffik after assuring personnel that “as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly—together”.
