NUUK, Greenland, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. congressional delegation visiting Greenland on Monday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the island is "all over" with Russian and Chinese vessels, calling the assertion "not true."
Speaking at a press conference in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, Independent Senator Angus King of Maine said that based on the delegation's on-site observations and briefings from Denmark's Joint Arctic Command, Trump's remarks about the presence of Russian and Chinese ships near Greenland were unfounded.
King also rejected Trump's suggestion that Greenland's defense relies mainly on "sled dogs," stressing that "the security and defense capacity of Greenland is strong and growing stronger," in response to a question from Xinhua.
The delegation arrived in Nuuk on Saturday with the stated aim of "repairing relations" and "rebuilding trust" with Denmark and Greenland. The group is led by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator Angus King, and includes lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Murkowski said Trump's recent comments about taking over Greenland and related threats have caused harm to the people of Greenland. "It hurts my heart," she said, adding that Trump's "few words have eroded and undermined trust built since World War II."
The purpose of the visit, Murkowski noted, is to "work to rebuild that trust." ■