Trump says US secures ‘permanent’ security control over Greenland

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has announced a new agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says will give Washington permanent control over Greenland’s security, potentially reshaping the military and strategic balance in the Arctic.

Trump announced the agreement on Friday, describing it on Truth Social as an “Infinite Life” deal with no end. He said the arrangement would give the United States the ability to take whatever measures it considers necessary to defend Greenland and US interests.

The announcement marks a dramatic development in a dispute that has strained relations between Washington and Copenhagen since Trump returned to the White House. Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is strategically important because of its location in the Arctic and concerns about Russia and China expanding their presence in the region.

Under the proposed arrangement, Trump said no US adversary would be allowed to establish a military base, deploy forces or make sensitive investments in Greenland without Washington’s approval. A US State Department official said the agreement would specifically prevent China and Russia from establishing bases or sending troops to the territory.

However, the agreement does not mean that Greenland has been transferred to the United States. Greenland remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and Danish officials have stressed that sovereignty and territorial integrity remain intact.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomed the agreement, saying it recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the kingdom as well as the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also said the arrangement strengthens the territory’s security.

The precise terms of the deal have not yet been fully made public. Reuters reported that the arrangement would provide the United States with permanent access, basing and overflight rights, while details about additional military facilities remain under discussion.

The United States already operates the Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland, a strategically important installation used for missile-warning and space-related missions. Reports have indicated that Washington has also considered establishing additional military facilities on the island.

The new agreement builds on existing defence arrangements. A 1951 US-Danish defence pact, updated in 2004, already gives Washington significant rights to increase its military presence in Greenland after consultations with Denmark and Greenland.

The announcement follows months of diplomatic tension. Earlier this year, Trump’s demands for greater US control over Greenland alarmed Denmark and other NATO members. At one point, Trump declined to rule out using force to acquire the territory, prompting strong opposition from Copenhagen and concern among European allies.

The latest agreement appears to shift the dispute toward a negotiated security framework while leaving Greenland’s sovereignty formally unchanged.

The deal is expected to be signed alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, although its exact legal framework and implementation process remain important unanswered questions.