US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States has reached a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland, giving Washington what he described as permanent control over security and other defence needs on the strategically important Arctic island.
Trump announced the deal on September 18, with formal signing expected at the UN General Assembly next week. He said it would have no expiry, expand US military presence and bar adversaries from bases, troops or sensitive investments in Greenland.
The US President said Washington would immediately begin preparations to expand its military presence in Greenland, although he did not provide details on the number of troops, locations of potential facilities or construction timelines. Trump also claimed the arrangement would come at no cost to the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement as a permanent guarantee of American security interests in the Arctic.
A State Department official said the deal would provide the US with permanent access, basing and overflight rights, while allowing American forces to increase the number of bases if required.
The deal would bar non-NATO countries, including China and Russia, from military bases, troop deployments and sensitive investments in Greenland.
Despite Trump’s description of the deal as giving Washington permanent control, Danish and Greenlandic officials have stressed that the agreement does not transfer sovereignty to the United States.
Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, while the deal is expected to recognise Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
The deal requires parliamentary approval in Denmark and Greenland and builds on US-Danish defence ties dating back to 1951.
Greenland also hosts the US Pituffik Space Base, supporting missile warning, defence and space surveillance.
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