UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland aimed at strengthening security in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions. The signing took place on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. This agreement follows Trump's previous calls for Greenland to become part of the United States but maintains that Greenland will remain under Danish control. The agreement allows for a bolstered U.S. military presence on Greenland, which could still apply if the territory chooses independence in the future.
Trump stated, "This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody," adding that it would be "incredible" for Greenland. He has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland since 2019 and has previously threatened to seize the territory from Denmark, a NATO ally. On Tuesday, he did not address whether a U.S. acquisition of Greenland was still a possibility.
Negotiations among officials from the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark have been ongoing for months, focusing on addressing security concerns related to the mineral-rich island. Trump's interest in Greenland has caused strain within NATO, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that a U.S. takeover would jeopardize the Atlantic alliance.
The situation has caused unease among Greenland's approximately 56,000 residents and has created tensions between the U.S. and Denmark, as well as with European Union partners, who have increased security exercises and financial support for the island.
Historically, the U.S. had a significant military presence in Greenland, which has diminished since 1945. Currently, about 200 U.S. soldiers are stationed at the Pituffik Space Base, which supports missile warning and defense operations for the U.S. and NATO.
In his address to the U.N. General Assembly, Trump announced plans to develop a larger military presence in Greenland, including the construction of two major military bases. Denmark's parliament had previously approved a bill allowing U.S. military bases on Danish soil, expanding a 2023 agreement with the Biden administration that granted U.S. troops access to air bases in Denmark.
The agreement permits the U.S. to modernize and expand its activities at Pituffik and establishes provisions for setting up defense areas in Greenland. It also states that no non-NATO country may establish military installations in Greenland without the agreement of the signatories. The accord does not have an end date and stipulates that if Greenland becomes independent, it will remain in NATO and uphold the rights and obligations under the agreement.
Frederiksen described the agreement as a "deal that can last forever," beneficial for the U.S., Greenland, Denmark, and NATO. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called it a "win-win-win agreement," emphasizing mutual security.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the signing of the accord, stating it enhances collective security in the region. However, the tensions surrounding the negotiations have left lasting concerns in Greenland, with local lawmaker Naaja Nathanielsen expressing that trust has been tested. She characterized the agreement as a significant step towards greater autonomy for Greenland, marking the first binding agreement signed by the territory as a country.