Media reports say President-elect Donald Trump's House GOP allies are clearing the runway for him to make good on his vow to acquire Greenland.
Fox News reports that Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is leading a bill to authorize Trump to enter negotiations with Denmark over purchasing Greenland, a territory located in North America but with longstanding cultural and geopolitical ties to Europe.
The bill is titled the "Make Greenland Great Again Act," according to a copy of its text obtained by Fox News Digital.
"Joe Biden took a blowtorch to our reputation these past four years, and before even taking office, President Trump is telling the world that America First is back. American economic and security interests will no longer take a backseat, and House Republicans are ready to help President Trump deliver for the American people," Ogles told Fox News Digital.
It would allow the sitting president to enter into talks with Denmark just after noon on January 20, when Donald Trump is due to be sworn in.
"Not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark relating to the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees the agreement, including all related materials and annexes," the legislation said, according to Fox News.
The US Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, meaning the executive branch cannot make any purchases for the federal government without getting the funds first appropriated by the House of Representatives and approved in the Senate.
Ogles' bill is reportedly backed by 10 fellow House Republicans.
In recent weeks, US President-elect Donald Trump has shown renewed interest in taking control of Greenland, a largely autonomous territory of Denmark in the Arctic and the world's largest island.
He first indicated an intention to buy Greenland in 2019, during his first term as president, but this week he went further, refusing to rule out economic or military force to take control of it.
Danish and European officials have responded negatively, saying Greenland is not for sale and its territorial integrity must be preserved.
Meanwhile the BBC says there is some speculation that Trump's move is just bluster, a move to get Denmark to boost Greenland's security in the face of the threat of both Russia and China seeking influence in the region.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. As Greenland is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, citizens of Greenland are European Union citizens. In 2021, Greenland had a population of 56,421. That year, 18,800 people resided in the capital city Nuuk. Nearly all Greenlanders live along the fjords in the south-west of the main island, which has a relatively mild climate. A huge territory of Greenland – 80 percent – is covered with ice but it has considerable untapped mineral wealth.
