A Republican lawmaker in the United States has introduced legislation that would provide formal legal backing for a dramatic expansion of American territory, proposing the annexation of Greenland and its eventual admission as a US state amid rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic.

Congressman Randy Fine announced the introduction of the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act, a bill designed to authorise the US President to pursue negotiations or other measures necessary to bring Greenland into the American Union. The proposal reflects a growing emphasis within sections of the US political establishment on securing strategic dominance in the Arctic region.

In a statement posted on social media, Fine described the legislation as a critical step toward safeguarding US national security interests. He argued that rival powers are seeking to establish a foothold in the Arctic and that Washington must act decisively to prevent this. According to the congressman, annexing Greenland would allow the United States to counter the expanding influence of China and Russia in the region.

Fine said that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both articulated the need for the United States to “restore American dominance” by acquiring Greenland. He framed the bill as a mechanism to transform that vision into policy, asserting that statehood for Greenland would give the United States a decisive strategic advantage for decades to come.

“My bill would give America the high ground for the next century,” Fine said, adding that the move would send a clear message to Beijing and Moscow that the United States would not tolerate encroachment on what it considers vital Arctic interests.

The proposed legislation authorises the federal government to take “whatever steps necessary” to negotiate, acquire, or otherwise bring Greenland under US sovereignty. While the bill does not specify a particular pathway, it signals congressional support for an idea that has long been controversial and largely symbolic in modern international politics.

The White House has confirmed that President Trump continues to view Greenland as strategically indispensable. Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt told reporters that the President believes US acquisition of the island is necessary to prevent it from falling under the influence or control of rival powers.

She said Trump sees Greenland as critical not only to American security but also to the broader security architecture of Europe and the North Atlantic region. According to Leavitt, the President fears that without US involvement, Greenland could eventually be acquired — or even “hostilely taken over” — by China or Russia.

Leavitt also suggested that Washington believes US control could benefit Greenland itself, arguing that integration with the United States might offer economic and security advantages to the island’s population. However, she noted that no specific timeline has been established for pursuing annexation, even though the issue remains a priority for the administration.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, exercising self-governance over most domestic matters while Copenhagen retains responsibility for foreign policy and defence. Its strategic importance has grown significantly in recent years due to climate change, which is opening new Arctic shipping routes and increasing access to natural resources.

The United States already maintains a military presence on the island, notably through its air base at Thule, while both China and Russia have stepped up diplomatic, economic, and military engagement across the Arctic. These developments have intensified competition among global powers and elevated Greenland’s role in long-term strategic calculations.

The introduction of the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act marks one of the most explicit legislative efforts in decades to redraw geopolitical boundaries, underscoring how the Arctic has emerged as a central arena of 21st-century power rivalry.