Greenland, Denmark say US deal will not cede sovereignty

Denmark and Greenland expressed on Saturday their assurance that any accord with the United States would not undermine Greenland's sovereignty. This came after President Donald Trump claimed the deal would enable Washington to have "permanent control" over the Arctic island's security, leaving the deal's specifics ambiguous. The United States, Denmark, and Greenland announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement for the US to establish a substantial military presence in Greenland, while barring US opponents from constructing their bases on the island.

Essential aspects of the agreement remain undisclosed, including the extent of US military presence within the self-governing Danish territory and whether any formal authority over foreign policy and resources would be transferred to Washington. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Ivan Sanders conveyed optimism that the deal, anticipated to be signed during the UN General Assembly next week, would conclude months of uncertainty sparked by Trump's threats to assume control over Greenland.

Rasmussen stated on Saturday: "Next week could be a good week - for Greenland, Denmark, and the United States. A time of uncertainty will hopefully give way to a binding agreement that strengthens security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, and thereby our shared security within NATO and Europe - while respecting the (Danish) Kingdom’s red lines."

Denmark and Greenland have consistently emphasized that Washington must respect Greenland's sovereignty and acknowledge that the island is not for sale. Trump's envisioned Greenland deal President declared on Truth Social late Friday that under the agreement, "the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America."

The deal "grants the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland," Trump added, noting that no adversary would be allowed to establish a base or military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments there, without explicit written approval from Washington. Trump's announcement followed Reuters' exclusive report of the US and Denmark nearing a deal.

Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen, a political science professor at the University of Copenhagen, commented: "This is probably not the end of President Trump's ambitions for Greenland and certainly not the end of US strategic interest in the territory and its resources." Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen expressed satisfaction with the proposed deal, stating: "The agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination."

Tensions within NATO alliance Trump's threats, which surged in January, sparked a diplomatic crisis that strained NATO relations and prompted Denmark and Greenland to negotiate in an effort to alleviate the pressure. A NATO spokesperson affirmed on Saturday that the alliance welcomed the agreement, emphasizing that it would "help advance security, stability and cooperation in this vital region."

Steffen Nielsen, a 49-year-old sales employee residing in Copenhagen, expressed his views to Reuters: "I believe the US will likely obtain what they could have had all along if they simply asked politely." "I don't like it," added Kaj Jorgensen, an 80-year-old pensioner, commenting on the news: "I do not wish the United States to have a presence anywhere in the Danish Kingdom. I truly do not trust Donald Trump."