Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after President Trump announced a “framework of a future deal” on Greenland with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte:

"If the President’s announcement of a future deal on Greenland results in a necessary U.S. pullback of threats and, in the future, necessary Arctic security investments, then that might be some relief for allies. Without their strong response, along with bipartisan blowback in Congress, it is doubtful the White House would have backed down from its irresponsible actions that benefited only Russia and China.

"For some time, NATO country parliamentarians have called for more focus on the Arctic, or the High North as some call it. In fact, U.S. security investment in the region has often lagged behind other Arctic countries.

"I have been a long-time advocate for increasing Arctic security investments that show U.S. attention to a region that many have treated as 'out of sight, out mind.'

"I hope NATO Secretary General Rutte is able to put meat on the bones of what seems to be more of an aspirational framework than anything real. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has already done much of the work on what is needed in the Arctic. I hope the Secretary General utilizes it."

Rep. Larsen is a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), which facilitates awareness and understanding of the key issues affecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and supports national parliamentary oversight over defense and security.

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