US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland to strengthen Arctic and North Atlantic security.
Trump, Greenland Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen signed the deal on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
The White House released the text of the deal shortly after that.
What’s in the Greenland deal?
The deal, which the president first announced earlier this month, bolsters US military and security presence on Greenland.
The US will reestablish a military base in south Greenland in Narsarsuaq and set up the other base on the eastern coast of the island in Mestersvig.
Trump said during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly that the US would “immediately begin the process of developing a significant military presence in appropriate locations and constructing two very important military bases.”
He said the deal was “tremendous” for Europe and the US just before he signed it, adding, “And for Greenland, it’s going to be incredible.”
Under the agreement, the US will be “allowed to modernize and expand its activities” at the Space Force base.
The deal also reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland.
Trump has long said he wanted the US to take over Greenland
The agreement comes after months of pressure from Trump,who has long said he wants the US to control Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO ally.
Behind the scenes, American, Danish, and Greenlandic officials worked many months to address Trump’s security concerns regarding the resource-rich island.
The dispute unsettled most Greenlanders and created tensions between the US, Denmark, and the European Union, which quickly increased security exercises and financial support for the Arctic island.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The race for Arctic
Greeland’s future has come under the spotlight globally because of trade interests and expectations of future resource development. At least two-thirds of its territory lies within the Arctic Circle, where melting sea ice has opened new maritime routes.
Although the US played a prominent role in Greenland for decades, its military presence on the island has declined since 1945.
From having thousands of troops stationed across 17 bases and installations, only about 200 personnel remain today at Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s prime minister, described the agreement as “a win-win arrangement.”
Last year, the Danish Parliament approved a bill allowing US military bases on Danish territory, expanding an agreement it had reached with the Biden administration in 2023. The deal granted US forces broad access to air bases in Denmark.
Wide US mobility on Greenland
The agreement grants US military forces broad freedom of movement in Greenland and its territorial waters and restricts non-NATO countries from establishing military facilities in Greenland or maintaining a “permanent” military presence unless the signatories agree otherwise.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the signing of the agreement, writing on X that “this agreement, together with NATO’s growing role in securing this vital region, enhances our collective security and supports a safer and more stable future for all of us.”
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
Editor’s note: We join our media colleagues in objection to the White House barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico. We are not going to use photos or video material produced by the White House and distributed through its official communication channels until further notice.
