Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the US had reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that gives Washington “permanent control” over the security of the world’s largest Arctic island. According to him, the United States will “forever” have the right to do whatever is necessary in Greenland to protect the island and the US itself.
Trump also wrote that no enemy of the US will “ever” be able to have bases, a military contingent or investments in Greenland without Washington’s direct written consent. He added that the United States would “immediately” begin building a major military presence on the island.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the US, Denmark and Greenland agreement on strengthening security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic would be signed next week. According to her, the document will take effect after going through the necessary procedures in the national parliaments and will recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the kingdom, as well as the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.
Frederiksen called the agreement very useful for NATO and Europe. Greenland’s head of government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the document takes into account the island’s interests and its place in international cooperation, while an American official told Fox News that the deal would remain in force even if Greenland becomes independent.
Greenland remains an autonomous territory of Denmark, home to 56,000 people. Trump has previously said more than once that the US should gain control of the island because of national security interests and the threat from Russia and China, and he also suggested that Denmark sell Greenland and did not rule out using force.
In the spring, General Gregory Guillot, who heads US Northern Command, said Greenland should become part of a network of radar stations and military bases together with facilities in Alaska and Canada. He also said Washington needs a deep-water port and a special forces training base on the island; during the Cold War, the US kept more than 10,000 soldiers there, and today the island hosts US Space Force facilities, radar systems and about 100 service members maintaining early warning and missile defense systems.
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