U.S. Senator Pushes Back Against European Security Abandonment Fears
During a Munich Security Conference panel alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the Democrat confronted anxieties triggered by Trump's push to acquire Greenland—a Danish territory—and broader questions about US reliability.
"You asked me to defend the American position. I will tell you only 17% of Americans want to, in any way, be involved in threatening Greenland. The vast majority of Americans saw this as a foolish gambit," Coons declared, citing the controversial territorial proposal.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee member emphasized that NATO enjoys "overwhelmingly popular" backing among Americans, pointing to Congress's authorization of substantial funding streams for the alliance, collective defense programs, and Ukraine assistance.
"We should do more, and we will, because it remains popular with the American people," Coons stated. "The American people know that our security and our future lies with NATO and lies with this community of shared principles."
When questioned whether NATO could exit Trump's second presidency fortified rather than weakened, Coons expressed optimism, saying he hopes so "and will work for it to be so."
Trump's persistent skepticism toward the military alliance has generated alarm across the US foreign policy community, Democratic circles, and the broader public.
Energy Independence and Russian Sanctions
Pivoting to energy security and the Ukraine conflict, Coons pressed European nations to eliminate Russian energy dependence.
"I think Europe should be seeking energy options where it can, but not from Russia. What is continuing to fund and fuel literally (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's murderous war machine is those countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, the single largest buyer being China," he stated.
The senator praised recent Trump administration sanctions targeting two major Russian petroleum corporations and initiatives to intensify economic warfare, noting strong bipartisan Congressional backing.
"It's the pressure on Putin that is needed to move the war of aggression against Ukraine towards a just and sustainable resolution," Coons argued.
He criticized Trump for devoting "as much time" to pressuring Ukraine toward concessions as to confronting Moscow.
"I am very grateful that our European partners have stepped up to provide the resources, the weaponry, much of which bought from the United States. But we have to balance this equation and push Putin to raise the costs of this war for him, or he will not conclude (it). And we have to achieve (this) through negotiations," Coons concluded.
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