US Senate Republicans and Democrats agreed on Wednesday that the US needs a closer relationship with Greenland to keep the autonomous Danish territory from falling under the influence of China and Russia.

Following President Donald Trump's call for the United States to acquire Greenland, U.S. senators coalesced Wednesday around the need to increase American influence on the Arctic island.

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday morning is holding a hearing looking into the importance of Greenland to U.S. interests. The hearing comes as President Trump has consistently floated the idea of acquiring Greenland,

Key Takeaways A Republican lawmaker earlier this week introduced legislation to authorize President Trump to negotiate the purchase of Greenland from Denmark, an idea that has been widely denounced.Denmark sold the Danish West Indies—now the U.