A new bill in Congress would authorize President Trump to annex Greenland and make it the 51st U.S. state—whether through purchase or by force.

Republican Rep. Randy Fine introduced the bill just days after Trump said the U.S. would take Greenland “one way or the other,” calling it a “vital national security asset.”

But Greenland is not a U.S. territory. It’s an autonomous region with its own democratic government, backed by Denmark—a NATO ally. Greenland’s elected leaders have made their position clear: “We choose Denmark over the U.S.” Their Prime Minister has firmly stated, “Greenland is not for sale.”

This proposal isn’t about diplomacy. It’s about coercion. And if passed, this bill would hand the president sweeping powers to attempt a land grab that risks destabilizing U.S. alliances and provoking a global crisis.

Even Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any military move on Greenland would “spell the end of NATO.” At a time when the world is facing growing security threats, the U.S. should not be threatening its own allies—or undermining the international order we helped build.

Greenland’s people have not asked to be annexed. They’ve not voted for statehood. They’ve not invited U.S. occupation. To try to force that outcome is a betrayal of American democratic values and international law.

We, the undersigned, call on Congress to immediately block the bill to make Greenland the 51st state and to publicly reject any plan that attempts to override Greenland’s sovereignty or sidestep its right to self-determination.

America should lead by example—not by threats. Greenland belongs to Greenland. Let’s keep it that way.

Image: Christian Klindt Soelbeck/REUTERS