The United States and Denmark have reached an agreement on Greenland’s security following months of tension over US President Donald Trump’s threats to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Trump said the agreement would give the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs” in Greenland, while leaders in Denmark and Greenland described the deal as a step towards strengthening security in the Arctic region.
The agreement is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly next week, although its full text has not been made public.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was “pleased that there is a prospect of a good agreement” for all three parties.
In a joint statement with Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Frederiksen said the deal “strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area” while recognising “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination”.
The statement added that the agreement would still be subject to “the necessary parliamentary procedures to enter into force” after it is signed.
Nielsen said it was “gratifying that we are about to enter into an agreement that ensures and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western alliance”.
“The agreement recognises Greenland’s interests and our place in international co-operation. It is for the benefit of us all,” he said.
Trump had spent months pushing for greater US control of Greenland, citing its strategic importance to American national security, its location and its mineral resources.
He had also threatened military action to take the territory, triggering opposition from Denmark and other NATO members.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the agreement came with “no cost to the United States” and would allow Washington “to do what is necessary” to “secure and defend the security of Greenland”.
He also said the deal would prevent US adversaries from maintaining military forces in Greenland or making sensitive investments there “without our express written approval”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement as a “historic deal” and a “huge win for the United States and the American people”.
“This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland,” he said in a statement.
Although the agreement has not been published, an unnamed US State Department official provided some details, saying it would remain in force even if Greenland becomes independent in the future.
According to the official, the US would have unilateral authority to construct additional military facilities in Greenland without requiring approval from Greenland or Denmark.
The agreement would also provide “permanent access, basing and overflights rights”.
The official said the deal would prohibit non-NATO countries from establishing military bases in Greenland and prevent adversaries from making investments in sensitive sectors that could pose a threat to the US.
The official specifically mentioned Russia and China, saying the agreement would prevent them from deploying troops or investing in sensitive areas of Greenland.
However, without the official text, it remains unclear how much the new arrangement differs from a 1951 agreement between the US and Denmark, which already permits Washington to deploy troops to Greenland.
The US currently has more than 100 military personnel stationed permanently at its Pituffik base in north-western Greenland.
Trump has also linked Greenland to his proposed Golden Dome defence system, which is intended to protect the US against missile attacks from Russia and China.
Greenland is also known to have significant deposits of rare earth minerals, many of which are important for technologies such as mobile phones and electric vehicles.
