Denmark hails 'binding' Greenland deal with Trump

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that grants the US "permanent control" over the security and defense of Greenland. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that this arrangement would address all US concerns regarding the island. He also stated that there would be "NO COST to the United States" due to this agreement.

The deal prohibits any US adversary from establishing a military presence or conducting sensitive investments in Greenland without explicit approval from the US. Additionally, according to Trump, the US will promptly commence the development and construction of a substantial military presence in Greenland, working collaboratively with the residents of the territory.

The agreement is expected to be formally signed next week at the UN General Assembly during a meeting involving the United States, Denmark, and Greenland, according to a statement from the Danish prime minister's office. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed her satisfaction with the forthcoming agreement, stating that it would be beneficial not only for Greenland and Denmark but also for NATO and Europe, as it recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right to self-determination of the Greenlandic people.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen affirmed that the agreement respects Greenland's interests and its position in international cooperation, adding that it is advantageous for all parties involved. However, the signed agreement will still need to undergo parliamentary proceedings before becoming fully effective.

The deal includes provisions for permanent access, basing rights, and overflight rights for the United States on the island. Furthermore, the agreement explicitly prevents non-NATO nations, including China and Russia, from establishing a base or deploying troops in Greenland, ensuring the implementation of necessary mechanisms to prevent investment in sensitive sectors by such countries.

Russia has been progressively augmenting its military presence in the Arctic region for several decades, while China has also intensified its involvement there. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed in a statement that the agreement comprehensively and permanently resolves US national security concerns pertaining to Greenland.

In recent months, Trump had consistently stressed the significance of acquiring Greenland for national security reasons; however, the topic had largely receded from public attention. In January, following a meeting between Danish and Greenlandic officials along with Vice President JD Vance and Rubio, the United States, Denmark, and Greenland established a "high-level working group" to explore potential avenues for addressing ongoing disputes over the island's sovereignty.

Later that month, at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Trump announced that he had secured the "framework for a future deal" regarding Greenland. Both the framework and the agreement announced on Friday bear notable similarities to an existing 1951 pact between the US and Denmark that permitted broad US military access in Greenland.

A US official observed that, unlike the previous status quo, under this agreement, no non-NATO country would be permitted to construct a military base in Greenland or maintain a troop presence there.