Sen. Rand Paul said on "CBS Mornings" he will oppose any U.S. military takeover of Greenland and promised to block such a move. He left the door open to a negotiated purchase, citing historical precedents like the Louisiana Purchase and Alaska, but stressed any transfer must be voluntary and supported by Greenlanders. Paul also emphasized preserving Congress' constitutional war powers amid recent strikes in Venezuela and White House comments that military options remain under consideration.
Rand Paul Vows to Block Any U.S. Military Takeover of Greenland
Rand Paul says military action in Greenland "won't happen under my watch"
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday forcefully rejected the idea of any U.S. military intervention in Greenland, telling "CBS Mornings":
"It won't happen under my watch. I will do everything to stop any kind of military takeover of Greenland."
Paul, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with a long record of opposing offensive U.S. military operations abroad, reiterated his view that Congress must protect its constitutional role in authorizing war. He previously backed a war-powers resolution aimed at limiting the president's authority to continue a military campaign in Venezuela; the measure was advanced but blocked by Senate Republicans. The administration did not seek congressional approval before last week's strikes, and the Senate is expected to revisit war-powers legislation this week.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president and his team are "discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief's disposal."
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. A lawmaker and a source familiar with the discussions told reporters that Sen. Marco Rubio informed members of Congress at a Tuesday briefing that the White House would prefer to buy Greenland rather than seize it by force.
Paul said he would not object in principle to a negotiated purchase, citing historical precedents such as the Louisiana Purchase and the acquisition of Alaska. But he stressed that any change in Greenland's status would have to be voluntary: Greenlanders would need to take formal steps—such as a vote to declare independence from Denmark—and be offered clear economic or political incentives to favor joining the United States.
"You didn't get to those purchases by insulting your opponent—you get there by diplomacy and by persuading them to agree voluntarily," Paul said. He added that proposals to expand U.S. territory should not be pursued through force or coercion.
Paul framed his opposition to unilateral military action as part of a broader constitutional debate. "I think this is an important debate to have," he said. "It doesn't mean I have anything personal against President Trump... But I do think the constitutional debate is an important one."
Observers note the comments come amid broader discussion about U.S. policy in the Arctic and recent actions in Venezuela, raising questions about how far administration initiatives might extend. Paul cautioned that any effort to change territorial arrangements should prioritize diplomacy, the consent of local populations and adherence to constitutional processes.
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