WASHINGTON,— US President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would give Washington permanent control over security and other needs in Greenland.
Trump made the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform. He said the agreement would address US security concerns on the Arctic island.
Trump Says US Will Control Security
Trump said the United States would have the ability to take measures needed to protect Greenland and US security interests.
He also said US adversaries would not be allowed to establish military bases or maintain military forces in Greenland without written US approval.
The president further said foreign rivals would need US approval before making sensitive investments on the island.
Trump also said the United States would begin work on expanding its military presence in Greenland. He did not provide full details of the claimed agreement.
Denmark and Greenland Yet to Finalize the Deal
The exact legal terms of the agreement remain unclear.
Danish and Greenlandic officials said an agreement on stronger security cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic is expected to be signed next week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the arrangement would protect Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Therefore, Trump’s description of “permanent control” has not yet been matched by a publicly released legal text.
Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark and has extensive self-government. The United States already maintains a military presence at Pituffik Space Base under its defense arrangements with Denmark.
Focus on Arctic Security
The United States has long viewed Greenland as strategically important because of its location in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Trump has repeatedly raised concerns about security in the region. His administration has also focused on limiting potential Chinese and Russian influence in Greenland.
The reported agreement could expand the US military role on the island while keeping Greenland within the Kingdom of Denmark.
However, the final scope of any new US powers will depend on the formal agreement and its published terms.
