WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has announced a major security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says gives the United States “permanent control” over Greenland’s security and defence needs, opening the door to a significantly expanded American military presence in the strategically vital Arctic territory.
Trump said the agreement would prevent US adversaries from establishing military bases, deploying forces or making sensitive strategic investments in Greenland without Washington’s written approval. He also announced that the US would immediately begin preparations to build up a large military presence on the island.
The move marks a dramatic escalation in America’s strategic push into the Arctic, where Washington has repeatedly raised concerns about growing Russian and Chinese activity. Greenland’s location makes it a critical area for North Atlantic defence, missile warning and Arctic military operations.
The agreement is expected to be formally signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the proposed pact would strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic and would be beneficial for NATO and Europe. She also stressed that it recognizes the Kingdom of Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
The deal does not amount to the United States acquiring Greenland, despite Trump’s earlier calls for American control of the territory. Greenland remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The island already hosts the Pituffik Space Base, a key US military and space facility, and the new agreement would significantly expand Washington’s military footprint.
The Arctic power struggle has entered a new phase — and Greenland is now at the centre of it.
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