- President Donald Trump announced Friday he has a deal with Denmark to bolster the US military presence in Greenland after months of negotiations with the NATO ally — an agreement that also keeps the Arctic territory in Denmark's hands.
- The deal came after officials from U.S., Greenland and Denmark quietly negotiated for months behind the scenes, searching for solutions to address some of Trump's security concerns about a territory of roughly 56,000 residents.
- Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the emerging deal benefits all three governments and 'recognizes Greenland's interests.'
- The agreement bans any non-NATO base in Greenland, limits adversaries from being able to make investments in Greenland and guarantees that China and Russia cannot have a base in Greenland, according to a State Department official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
President Donald Trump announced a significant deal with Denmark to enhance the U.S. military presence in Greenland, a territory with approximately 56,000 residents. This agreement, reached after months of negotiations, aims to address various security concerns raised by the Trump administration.
In a social media post, Trump stated that the deal "gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns." The agreement will be signed by the three governments during the United Nations General Assembly next week, although it still requires parliamentary approval from both the Danish and Greenland governments before enforcement.
Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, emphasized that the agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Greenland and Denmark, upholding their right to self-determination. Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, noted that the deal benefits all parties involved and acknowledges Greenland's interests.3
Importantly, the agreement prohibits any non-NATO military bases in Greenland and restricts adversaries from investing in the territory, ensuring that neither China nor Russia can establish a military presence there, according to a State Department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“The deal bans any non-NATO base in Greenland, limits adversary investments, and guarantees China and Russia cannot have a base there, per a State Department official. Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen said it 'recognizes Greenland's interests' after months of quiet negotiations.”
