Denmark welcomes Trump’s Greenland security deal

Denmark has welcomed a new agreement with the United States aimed at strengthening security in Greenland and preventing Russia and China from establishing military bases or gaining sensitive strategic access in the Arctic territory.

US President Donald Trump announced the agreement, describing it as a long-term arrangement that would allow Washington to expand its military presence in Greenland. Denmark and Greenland said they support the deal and are expected to formally sign it on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the agreement could end a prolonged period of uncertainty. He said the deal would strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic while respecting Denmark’s key conditions.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement recognises Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s territorial integrity. She also stressed the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement takes Greenland’s interests into account and would improve its security.

Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is strategically important to US national security. His push for greater American control over the territory had previously created tensions with Denmark, a NATO ally.

The exact terms of the new agreement have not yet been made public. Denmark has maintained that its sovereignty over Greenland remains unchanged.

Trump said the United States would begin expanding its military presence in Greenland. He also said Washington would prevent its adversaries from establishing bases, deploying troops or making sensitive investments in the territory without US approval.

Danish analysts have questioned how much the agreement changes the existing situation. Under a defence agreement dating back to 1951 and updated in 2004, the United States already has significant military access to Greenland, subject to arrangements with Denmark and Greenland.

The agreement also reflects growing concerns over competition in the Arctic. As the region becomes more accessible because of climate change, the United States, Russia and China have increased their strategic interest there.

A Danish researcher said China’s investments in Greenland’s mining and other extractive industries have raised concerns in Washington. The United States fears that economic activity could eventually create opportunities for strategic or military access.

Questions also remain over the extent of American influence over future investments and military facilities in Greenland. Reports have suggested that Washington is considering additional military bases in the southern part of the territory alongside its existing facility in northern Greenland.