Canada’s defence minister calls U.S. deal on Greenland ‘encouraging’

Ottawa — National Defence Minister David McGuinty expressed optimism regarding the United States' agreement to enhance its military presence in Greenland while preserving the island's Danish sovereignty. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had reached a deal with Denmark following a period of ultimatums to seize the island by force from its NATO ally.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's office stated that the agreement would be signed by the three governments during the United Nations General Assembly next week, although parliamentary approval from both the Danish and Greenland governments is still required before it can be enforced.

Addressing reporters on Parliament Hill on Saturday, McGuinty remarked that it is a positive sign that the U.S. and Greenland have managed to collaborate. He added that Arctic nations are uniting, emphasizing that the fact that NATO allies recognize the Arctic as part of their responsibilities is also encouraging. The return of President Trump to the White House last year saw him urging Denmark to sell Greenland to the United States, and he did not rule out the possibility of taking the island by military force, despite Denmark being a NATO ally of the U.S. This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on September 19, 2026, with additional material sourced from The Associated Press.