Denmark and Greenland announced that an agreement with the United States on Greenland's security is expected to be signed in the coming week. The deal, described by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, would give the United States permanent control over security matters and "all other affairs" on the island, which remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Danish and Greenlandic governments did not provide details on the specific rights or obligations created by the pact and emphasized that further steps remain, including formal ratification at the United Nations General Assembly and approval by the Danish parliament before the agreement can take effect.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the arrangement would "strengthen our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, and is therefore good for NATO and Europe." She added that the agreement recognises Denmark's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Greenlanders' right to self‑determination. Greenland's premier, Jens‑Frederik Nielsen, echoed the sentiment, noting that the pact acknowledges Greenland's interests and its role in international cooperation.
The United States has long maintained a military presence on Greenland, chiefly the Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, which supports missile‑defence and radar operations. President Trump has previously floated the idea of a "Golden Dome" missile‑defence system on the island, citing threats from Russia and China. No cost to the United States was mentioned in the announcement.
The development follows months of tension after Trump threatened to annex the former Danish colony and proposed tariffs to force a sale. European allies, including Germany, condemned the earlier rhetoric, and NATO officials warned that the dispute could strain transatlantic relations. Analysts said the agreement could formalise an expanded U.S. role in the strategically important Arctic corridor that links North America and Europe.
The final terms of the deal remain undisclosed, and both Denmark and Greenland indicated that additional negotiations are forthcoming.
