Kathrine Frich
President Donald Trump renews his push to bring the Arctic island under U.S. control.
The rhetoric has sparked fears that the dispute could escalate far beyond diplomacy.
As concerns grow, attention is turning to whether America’s own institutions have the power to block any dramatic move before it happens.
Rising pressure
Since returning to the White House last January, Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States “need” to own Greenland for national security reasons.
The island’s strategic position between North America and the Arctic has long made it important for missile detection and military logistics.
Greenland, however, remains a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has firmly rejected any suggestion that it could be bought or taken over.
Trump has responded by threatening economic pressure.
He has warned of a 10 percent tariff on eight European countries starting in February, rising to 25 percent by June if a deal for what he called the “complete and total purchase of Greenland” is not reached.
Fears of escalation
The language has fueled public anxiety about a possible military confrontation.
Some commentators have openly raised the prospect of a wider conflict if the United States were to attempt to seize the island by force.
Against that backdrop, lawmakers have begun discussing whether Congress could intervene to block such a move.
War powers option
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said Congress could act by invoking the War Powers Resolution, according to ABC News.
“We could, for example, cut off any funds that could be used for military purposes with respect to Greenland; we could take action under the War Powers Resolution,” Van Hollen said.
The War Powers Resolution, sometimes called the War Powers Act, was adopted in 1973 during the final years of the Vietnam War.
It was designed to curb a president’s ability to launch or expand military action abroad without congressional oversight.
How it works
Under the law, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of committing U.S. forces to hostilities.
Without congressional authorization or a formal declaration of war, those forces cannot remain engaged for more than 60 days, with an additional 30-day withdrawal period.
The intent was to allow rapid action in emergencies while ensuring Congress retained the final say over prolonged military operations.
Limits and politics
The law has clear limits. Any resolution passed by Congress under the War Powers framework can be vetoed by the president.
Overriding such a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate, a threshold Democrats are unlikely to reach without significant Republican support.
Van Hollen warned that political hesitation could undermine Congress’s role.
“A lot of our Republican colleagues talk big until it comes time to vote,” he said, urging lawmakers to stop giving Trump “a blank check.”
Sources: ABC News, Unilad.
