Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached an agreement allowing an expanded and permanent U.S. military presence on the strategically important Arctic island while leaving Greenland under Danish sovereignty.
Trump said the deal gives the United States “permanent control over security” in Greenland and allows Washington to expand bases and military operations as needed. U.S. officials said the agreement also bars non-NATO countries from establishing military bases on the island and restricts sensitive investments from potential adversaries.
However, Danish and Greenlandic leaders emphasized Saturday that the agreement does not transfer sovereignty or ownership to the United States. Greenland remains a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and officials said the agreement explicitly recognizes Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
That distinction is significant because Trump had spent months publicly discussing acquiring Greenland and had declined earlier this year to rule out military force. The new arrangement instead expands existing U.S. security rights dating to a 1951 defense agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the agreement a major national-security achievement, while Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said it would strengthen security for Greenland, Denmark, the United States and NATO.
The agreement is expected to be formally signed during next week’s United Nations General Assembly and will still require approval through Danish and Greenlandic political processes.
The pact gives Washington wider military access to Greenland without accomplishing Trump’s earlier stated goal of acquiring the territory itself.
Sources
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