Republican Rep. Michael McCaul warned on Sunday that any U.S. army intervention to acquire Greenland would put America at odds with its NATO allies — and presumably spell the top of the alliance itself.
“What do you make of what is going on on with the president in Greenland? And now he is slapped tariffs on eight of our allies in Europe; he isn’t ruling out army power to get Greenland. What’s going on?” “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl requested McCaul, who serves as chairman emeritus of each the Home International Affairs and Homeland Safety committees.
Whereas McCaul acknowledged the strategic significance of the autonomous island, which is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and famous that earlier Presidents have thought-about buying the territory, he mentioned the U.S. already has a treaty that enables “full entry” to guard Greenland — successfully negating the aim of any invasion.
“The actual fact is, the president has full army entry to Greenland to guard us from any risk,” McCaul mentioned. “So if he needs to buy Greenland, that is one factor. However for him to militarily invade would flip Article 5 of NATO on its very head and, in essence, press a struggle with NATO itself. It will find yourself abolishing NATO as we all know it.”
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Jan. 18, 2026.
ABC Information
McCaul added, “If we wish to put extra army in there, we will; we do not have to invade it. If he needs to purchase it, that is effective. However I do not see a prepared vendor proper now.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen echoed McCaul’s level on “This Week,” and accused the president of “mendacity” when he says acquiring Greenland is about nationwide safety.
“Denmark and Greenland have each mentioned to america, ‘You may take what measures you have to defend the safety of america and, in fact, the NATO alliance,'” Van Hollen mentioned. “We have now a base there already, and we will develop that base.”
“This isn’t about safety,” Van Hollen instructed Karl. “That is a couple of land seize. Donald Trump needs to get his arms on the minerals and different assets of Greenland, similar to the true motive he went into Venezuela had nothing to do with stopping medication from coming.”
Requested if there was any motion that Congress might take to forestall Trump from utilizing power to take over Greenland, Van Hollen referred to as on Congress to invoke the Conflict Powers Decision.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Jan. 18, 2026.
ABC Information
“We might, for instance, lower off any funds that could possibly be used for army functions with respect to Greenland; we might take motion below the Conflict Powers Decision,” Van Hollen mentioned. “However loads of our Republican colleagues speak large till it comes time to vote. We noticed that simply this previous week, the place two Republican senators who had voted in favor of shifting ahead the Conflict Powers Decision on Venezuela backed off. So that they must cease giving Donald Trump a clean verify.”
Van Hollen additionally criticized Trump’s threats to intervene militarily in Iran amid reviews that hundreds of protesters have been killed in demonstrations towards the nation’s regime.
“I do not imagine we must be utilizing American army power to attempt to impose democracy on Iran,” Van Hollen mentioned.
“We should always assist the protesters,” he added. “However the president of United States mustn’t recommend that we will are available there and supply army assist to do away with the regime.”
