PHOTOS & VIDEO: Peters Joins Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Greenland to Reiterate U.S. Support for Critical Arctic Ally

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) recently returned from a bipartisan congressional delegation to Greenland to reinforce support for U.S.-Greenland relations. The trip follows repeated threats from the Trump Administration to annex, purchase, or seize the Arctic nation.

"To me, there are three core elements to protecting our national security. We need a strong economy, a strong military, and strong allies," said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and member of the Armed Services Committee. "Greenland and Denmark have been essential allies in advancing our shared economic and security goals, but unfortunately President Trump's recent actions have broken that trust. During this visit, our congressional delegation reaffirmed the United States' respect for Greenland's right to self-determination and commitment to maintaining our invaluable partnership as NATO allies."

To download photos and video of Senator Peters on the congressional delegation, click here.

Peters was joined on the trip by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The lawmakers visited Greenland's capital city of Nuuk, meeting with the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet, members of Parliament, Inuit leaders, Danish military leaders from Joint Arctic Command, and other Arctic officials.

Prior to the delegation's arrival in Nuuk, the group also visited military personnel and leaders at Pituffik Space Force Base, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The base is the United States' northern-most military installation, critical to American national security.

Senator Peters recognizes the strategic importance of the Arctic region for U.S. national security. In December, Peters authored and secured language in the national defense bill that recognizes the current geopolitical challenges and opportunities presented by the Arctic region, and supports U.S. efforts to better understand the emerging need to enhance operations in the region. Specifically, Peters' provision encourages the Secretary of Defense to partner with interagency organizations, including the Center for Arctic Security and Resiliency and the Joint All Domain Weather Operations Center, to coordinate federal agency planning for Arctic operations as well as testing of systems to support Arctic operations. Peters has also long been an advocate for the Michigan National Guard's "Winter Strike" exercise, a military training simulation that tests units' operational readiness in arctic conditions.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet