US, Denmark reach Greenland security deal
The US and Denmark have announced a security agreement for Greenland, ending a dispute sparked by President Donald Trump's threats to seize the territory.
The United States and Denmark have announced a security agreement concerning Greenland, resolving a diplomatic crisis that began when President Donald Trump threatened to seize the Arctic territory. The deal, which Trump says comes at no cost to the US, grants Washington permanent control over Greenland's security needs.
Nato welcomed the arrangement, with a spokesperson saying it would help advance security and stability in the vital Arctic region. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland also welcomed the prospect of a deal to strengthen security, which is expected to be signed at the UN General Assembly next week before undergoing necessary parliamentary procedures.
Terms of the agreement
While the full text has not been released, an unnamed US State Department official outlined key provisions. The agreement grants the United States unilateral power to build additional military structures in Greenland without needing approval from Denmark or Greenland itself. It includes permanent access, basing, and overflight rights for US forces.
A central rule bans any US adversary from maintaining a military presence in Greenland or making sensitive investments there without explicit written US approval. The official specifically referenced Russia and China, stating the deal blocks them from deploying troops or investing in sensitive sectors. The agreement is also designed to remain in effect even if Greenland becomes an independent country in the future.
Diplomatic resolution of a crisis
The announcement follows months of threats by President Trump to "take"Greenland, citing its strategic location for defence and its mineral wealth."the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination."Nielsen called it gratifying to enter an agreement that ensures the security of Greenland, Denmark, the US, and the Western alliance."to reaffirm Danish sovereignty" over the island, noting it respected international law.
Reactions and lingering questions
Some Danish media portrayed the outcome as a diplomatic triumph. Don't tell Trump that it's the Kingdom of Denmark that has won,read a headline in the newspaper Berlingske.we have all been hoping forbut stressed it was key any agreement preserves Greenland's right to self-determination.I don't have much confidence in Trump.
It remains unclear what specific concessions were made or how the new pact differs from a 1951 agreement under which the US can already send troops to Greenland. The US currently has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base in north-western Greenland. Trump has stated Greenland is essential for his plan to build a Golden Dome defence system to protect against missile attacks from Russia and China.
The island possesses vast, largely untapped reserves of rare earth minerals key for technologies like mobile phones and electric vehicles. The US official noted that, under the status quo, adversaries had been allowed to invest in Greenland's sensitive sectors without investment screening, a practice the new deal aims to block.
