COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)
On Saturday, the Danish government expressed cautious optimism about Donald Trump’s recent announcement regarding a deal on Greenland. This agreement aims to enhance the U.S. military presence there while maintaining Danish control over the territory. This comes after months of Trump threatening to take control of the semiautonomous area, which is part of a NATO ally.
Leaders in Greenland echoed this sentiment, indicating that the deal had been anticipated for some time.
Trump stated on Friday that the agreement would grant the U.S. “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns.”
Denmark and the U.S. already have a longstanding security arrangement that permits U.S. forces in Greenland, so the exact differences in this new deal remain unclear.
Following Trump’s announcement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s office revealed that the agreement would be signed by the three governments next week during the United Nations General Assembly. However, further parliamentary actions from both the Danish and Greenland governments are required before it can take effect.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen noted on Instagram Saturday morning that “next week could be a good week… for Greenland, Denmark, and the United States alike.”
He added that he hoped a period of uncertainty would transition into a binding agreement that would enhance security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, reinforcing shared NATO and European security while respecting established boundaries.
Greenland’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, expressed happiness about the deal, stating it benefits collective security and supports ongoing development in the country.
Múte B. Egede, Greenland’s foreign minister, expressed his satisfaction that an agreement was finally in sight, noting that “it has taken some time,” and he emphasized the need for a resolution.
Trump mentioned that this agreement would allow the U.S. to “immediately” expand its military presence on the resource-rich Danish territory.
The U.S. has maintained various bases in Arctic regions since the Cold War but scaled back its presence over time. It currently operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, established after the Defense of Greenland Treaty in 1951, which contributes to missile warning, defense, and space surveillance for both the U.S. and NATO.
A U.S. State Department source noted that the agreement prohibits any non-NATO bases in Greenland, restricts adversaries’ investment in the territory, and ensures that China and Russia cannot establish a base there. This official spoke anonymously due to lack of authorization to comment publicly.
Negotiations among U.S., Greenlandic, and Danish officials had been ongoing silently for months to address Trump’s security concerns regarding the small population of about 56,000 residents in Greenland.
With this announcement, Trump could highlight a foreign policy success as midterm elections approach in the U.S. Previously, he had urged Denmark to sell Greenland to the U.S., asserting its significance for U.S. security, even suggesting military action was a possibility, despite Denmark being a NATO partner.
Denmark and Greenland have consistently stated that the island is not for sale and condemned reports about U.S. intelligence activities there. The U.S. interest in Greenland faced strong opposition from Russia and much of Europe.
Orla Joelsen, a grassroots pro-sovereignty activist from Greenland, remarked on X that “our fight against Trump’s ambition to take over Greenland has been won.” She added that the new agreement explicitly acknowledges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and the right to self-determination for the Greenlandic people.
