The United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached an agreement aimed at strengthening security around the strategically important Arctic territory, following months of tensions over President Donald Trump’s calls for greater U.S. control of Greenland.
Trump announced the agreement on Friday, saying it would give the United States permanent control over security and other security-related needs in Greenland. He also said Washington would begin preparations for a larger military presence on the island.
The exact terms of the agreement have not yet been made public. However, officials have indicated that it would allow the United States to expand its military presence while preventing countries considered adversaries from establishing military bases or making certain sensitive investments in Greenland.
Denmark and Greenland have stressed that the arrangement does not transfer sovereignty to the United States.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the proposed agreement recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as the right of Greenland’s people to self-determination.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also welcomed the agreement, saying it would strengthen security while recognising Greenland’s interests and position within international cooperation.
The deal follows months of diplomatic tension after Trump repeatedly expressed his desire for the United States to acquire Greenland, which is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Greenland, which has a population of about 56,000, occupies a strategically important position between North America and Europe. Its location has made it increasingly significant to Arctic and North Atlantic security, particularly as the United States, Russia and China compete for influence in the region.
The United States already maintains a major military installation at Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. The base supports missile-warning, missile-defence and space-surveillance operations.
Trump’s latest announcement represents a shift from his earlier demand for U.S. ownership of the territory. Danish and Greenlandic officials have repeatedly rejected the idea of transferring Greenland to American control.
The three governments are expected to formally sign the agreement on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. Denmark and Greenland have said the agreement will still have to go through the necessary parliamentary procedures before it can take effect.
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