Trump speaks of victory and “permanent control,” while Denmark asserts sovereignty: Copenhagen, Nuuk, and Washington announce an agreement on Greenland.
According to TV2, the United States, Denmark, and Greenland have announced an agreement to bolster security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, a development that comes after months of tension over US President Donald Trump's claims to Greenland. The Danish government confirmed that the agreement is expected to be signed next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York, and will then undergo the necessary parliamentary procedures before entering into force.
Trump speaks of "permanent" security powers«
In a post on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump stated that the agreement grants the United States "permanent control over security and all other needs" in Greenland. He added that Washington will immediately begin the process of developing a substantial military presence in appropriate areas of the island, and that no adversary of the United States will be able to establish a base, military presence, or make sensitive investments in Greenland without written US consent.
Trump also confirmed that the agreement has no expiration date, describing its duration as "perpetual." The full text of the agreement has not yet been released, so the details of the powers the United States will grant remain unclear.
Denmark and Greenland reaffirm sovereignty and the right to self-determination
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that the agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination. The Danish government stated that the agreement strengthens collective security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, and therefore also serves the security of NATO and Europe.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement would guarantee and enhance the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western Alliance, adding that it takes into account Greenland's interests and its position in international cooperation.
Comment by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that next week could be a "good week" for Greenland, Denmark and the United States, expressing his hope that the period of uncertainty would be replaced by a binding agreement that strengthens security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, and thus common security within NATO and Europe.
Details of the agreement remain undisclosed.
Despite the announcement of the agreement, key questions remain unanswered. The full text of the agreement has not been published, and details regarding the potential increase in the US military presence, the areas it might cover, and the new cooperation mechanism between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland remain unclear.
The date on which the agreement will enter into force has not yet been determined, as it will first need to complete parliamentary procedures in Denmark and Greenland.
This is consistent with what international sources, including Reuters and the Associated Press, have reported, indicating that the agreement strengthens the US military presence in Greenland without meaning that ownership of the island will be transferred to the United States, while the details of the new powers still need official clarification.
Widespread international interest in the agreement
The announcement garnered widespread attention beyond Denmark, Greenland, and the United States, with international media outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, Sky News, CBC, ABC News, and DW, as well as Al Jazeera, making headlines. International coverage focused particularly on Trump's statements regarding permanent security control and the fact that the agreement does not transfer sovereignty of Greenland to the United States.
The agreement comes after months of tension sparked by Trump’s statements about his desire to control Greenland, while the wording announced by Copenhagen and Nuuk indicates that the current settlement deals primarily with the security and military file, while maintaining the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.
