Denmark and Greenland said that any agreement with the United States would not compromise Greenland’s sovereignty, following President Donald Trump’s claim that the deal would give Washington “permanent control” over the Arctic island’s security. The United States, Denmark and Greenland said they had entered into an agreement for the US to develop a significant military presence on Greenland, while prohibiting US adversaries from building their own bases on the island.
Key details of the agreement have not been made public, including the degree of US military presence in the self-governed Danish territory and whether any formal power over foreign policy and resources would be ceded to Washington. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed hope that a deal, which is expected to be signed during the UN General Assembly next week, would end months of uncertainty triggered by Trump’s threats to seize control of Greenland.
Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement posted on Facebook that “Next week could be a good week – for Greenland, Denmark, and the United States” and “a time of uncertainty will hopefully give way to a binding agreement that strengthens security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, and thereby our shared security within NATO and Europe – while respecting the (Danish) Kingdom’s red lines.”
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Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that Washington respect the sovereignty of the Danish kingdom and accept that Greenland is not for sale. Trump said on Truth Social that under a deal, “the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Saturday in a post on Facebook that “I am pleased on Greenland’s behalf that we are nearing the conclusion of an agreement – an agreement that benefits not only our collective security but also the continued development of this country” and “The agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.” A NATO spokesperson said the alliance welcomed the agreement, which would “help advance security, stability and cooperation in this vital region.”