Arktiskonflikt: Grönländ gibt grünes Licht für Abkommen mit den USA

The Greenlandic Parliament has given its approval to a new security and defense agreement with the United States. According to the news agency Ritzau, a majority of the MPs voted in favor of the accord, which was signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenland's government chief Jens-Frederik Nielsen in September at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Sixteen MPs backed the agreement, while seven abstained, and there were no opposing votes. The Danish Parliament is expected to give its consent on November 19. Once the U.S. is briefed on the results of the two votes, the agreement can finally become effective.

This agreement modernizes and supplements a defense pact between Denmark and the U.S., which has been in place since 1951. It effectively puts a final end to the Arctic island conflict, which was instigated by the U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump had previously threatened to annex Greenland and justified his actions by citing security interests.

Upon signing the accord, all three parties - the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland - were hailed as winners. From the Danish and Greenlandic perspectives, the concessions were seen as a small price to pay. Although Denmark and Greenland already possess a fair amount of military flexibility on the Arctic island through a 1951 agreement, the U.S. military presence there has been limited to a single base, the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, which is crucial for missile defense and radar surveillance.

The deal allows the U.S. to modernize this base and expand its activities there, as well as build up to two additional defense sites. Additionally, the U.S. will initially have the freedom to move around and maintain its military infrastructure on and around the Arctic island. However, non-NATO states are prohibited from establishing military installations in Greenland without the consent of the three parties involved.

The agreement also limits investments from non-NATO or non-partner countries. This measures are designed to curb China and Russia's influence in the region, in line with Trump's desire to limit their impact.