US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington and Denmark had reached an agreement to strengthen the American military presence in Greenland, potentially ending months of tensions over his repeated demands for the United States to acquire the strategically important Arctic island.

The agreement will keep Greenland under Denmark’s sovereignty while giving the US a larger security role on the island. Denmark said the governments of the US, Denmark and Greenland are expected to sign the agreement next week during the United Nations General Assembly, after which it will require parliamentary approval in both Denmark and Greenland before taking effect.

Greenland To Remain Under Danish Sovereignty

Danish and Greenlandic leaders said the agreement protects sovereignty and self-determination, while the US described it as a significant national security gain.

In a social media post, Trump said the agreement “gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many US concerns.”

He added that his administration would “immediately” begin the process of developing a larger American military presence on the mineral-rich Danish territory.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s office said the agreement “recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Greenland and Denmark and upholds both peoples’ right “to self-determination.”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the emerging agreement benefits all three governments and “recognises Greenland’s interests and our place in the international cooperation.”

Trump’s Greenland Push

Since returning to the White House last year, Trump had repeatedly pressed Denmark to sell Greenland to the US, arguing that control of the island was important to American national security.

He had also declined to rule out the possibility of using military force to acquire Greenland, despite Denmark being a NATO ally. Denmark and Greenland repeatedly maintained that the island was not for sale and criticised reports that the US was gathering intelligence there.

Russia and much of Europe also opposed Washington’s push over Greenland. After announcing the agreement, Trump suggested that the dispute could now be resolved.

“We look forward to working with the wonderful people of Denmark and Greenland toward a magnificent future with respect to this large, and highly strategic, parcel of land,” Trump said. “We will be very protective of it!”

Trump has argued that the US needs Greenland to deter potential threats from Russia and China. He has also repeatedly made false claims about Chinese and Russian military forces operating off Greenland’s coastline.

US Says Deal Blocks Adversary Bases

A US State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly, said the agreement would prohibit any non-NATO base in Greenland, restrict the ability of adversaries to invest on the island and ensure that China and Russia cannot establish a base there.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement as a “historic deal” and a “huge win” for the US.

“Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defence area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area,” Rubio said. “This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland.”

US Military Presence In Greenland

The US has maintained a military presence in Greenland for decades. During the Cold War, Washington operated several bases and installations on the island before reducing its presence.

The US continues to operate the Pituffik Space Base in north-western Greenland. The base was established following the 1951 Defence of Greenland Treaty between the US and Denmark and supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for the US and NATO.

Greenland’s geographical position also gives it strategic importance for North American defence. The island lies off Canada’s north-eastern coast, with more than two-thirds of its territory located inside the Arctic Circle.

During World War II, the US occupied Greenland to prevent it from falling into Nazi Germany’s hands and to protect important North Atlantic shipping routes.

European Concerns Over Trump’s Approach

Danish officials had maintained throughout the dispute that Copenhagen was willing to work with Washington to expand the American military presence in Greenland and strengthen US commercial interests on the island.

However, Trump’s repeated demands and threats had caused concern among NATO allies and European partners.

Imran Bayoumi, associate director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, said, “I think Americans really underestimate how damaging it was for the image of the United States in Europe.”

He added, “I think Greenlanders, Danes, Europeans saw this as a real attack on their sovereignty, and it’s going to take a lot of work to repair.”

The proposed agreement now provides a framework under which Greenland remains part of Denmark while the US expands its security role on the strategically significant Arctic island.

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