Today, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued the following statement:

“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region. The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”

This is not fake news or propaganda. It is a verbatim statement from the White House Press Secretary. Coming just days after U.S. military action in Venezuela, it openly raises the possibility that the United States could use force to take control of Greenland.

I recognize and respect that people in our North Country communities hold differing views on how best to secure our nation and advance our shared goals. I firmly believe, however, that we all want what is best for our neighbors, our communities, and our country. I believe deeply in our democracy and welcome open, respectful dialogue with those who see things differently than I do.

In that spirit, I am addressing this statement not only to the Democratic voters involved in the upcoming primary election, but to all Americans—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike. Some issues transcend elections and matter more than political gain.

As Americans, we share far more in common than we often acknowledge in today’s political climate. We all want a safe, secure country where we can raise families, express our freedoms and build a strong future for ourselves and our loved ones. While we may disagree about how best to achieve these goals, those disagreements are healthy in a democracy—so long as we engage one another with respect, allow room for dialogue, and work together to solve real problems rather than demonizing those we disagree with.

This divide has been especially evident in the debate following the military action in Venezuela. In recent days, much of the public conversation has been marked by insults and vitriol rather than substantive discussion. I do not believe this reflects where most Americans stand, nor does it represent our best selves. America is a great nation, but we must do better when confronting serious challenges.

Few people believe Nicolas Maduro was a legitimate leader. He was a brutal dictator who enriched himself at the expense of his people and oppressed the Venezuelan nation. No reasonable person—Democrat or Republican—defends Maduro or mourns his downfall. However, many Americans have raised serious concerns about the manner and legitimacy of his removal—not out of concern for Maduro himself, but out of concern for upholding American ideals and protecting our long-term national security interests.

That concern is straightforward: violating national sovereignty through military force, rather than pursuing alternative means, can ultimately weaken our own national security. Reasonable people can and should debate this point, even if they ultimately don’t agree. Today’s statement from the White House regarding Greenland reinforces those fears.

The idea of using military force to take control of an independent territory such as Greenland poses a serious threat to U.S. national security. It undermines international treaties and alliances that help maintain global stability and protect not only the United States, but the broader international community. Such actions risk alienating our allies and creating more conflict—not less. As the prime minister of Denmark said today, a U.S. incursion into Greenland would mean the end of NATO.

Whatever national security benefit might be gained by taking Greenland by force would be vastly outweighed by the damage caused by the collapse of our international alliances. The only beneficiaries of such actions would be our adversaries. This is precisely the danger many of us warned about when raising concerns over the military action in Venezuela.

Again, while we may not all agree, I urge those who care about this country not to dismiss disagreement as anti-American. Instead, we should welcome dialogue, ask serious questions, and engage one another in good faith. In that spirit, I invite anyone who wishes to respond to do so respectfully and thoughtfully—without insults, and with a genuine interest in understanding this critical issue.