Trump Says US Gains Permanent Security Control Over Greenland

US President Donald Trump says the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark granting Washington “permanent control” over Greenland’s security and other related needs.

The agreement, which is expected to be signed during next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, comes months after Trump threatened to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

However, Denmark has stressed that it will retain sovereignty over Greenland, while the agreement must still be ratified by both the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments.

Under the reported deal, countries considered US adversaries would be prevented from establishing military bases or making sensitive investments in Greenland without US approval. A US State Department official said the arrangement would prevent countries such as China and Russia from establishing military facilities or investing in sensitive sectors on the island.

Trump has described the agreement as an “Infinite Life” agreement, indicating that it would have no fixed end date. US officials also said Washington would have the right to construct additional military facilities in Greenland without requiring approval from Denmark or Greenland.

The agreement does not, however, give the United States ownership of Greenland or transfer sovereignty from Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark as well as Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognises Greenland’s interests and would benefit all sides.

The United States already has significant military rights in Greenland under a 1951 defence agreement. Washington operates Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, where more than 100 personnel are stationed.

It remains unclear how much the new agreement will change the existing US military presence. Trump has said the United States will immediately begin expanding its military presence on the island.

Greenland is also rich in minerals, including rare-earth elements, zinc, iron, uranium and graphite. Although the reported agreement does not specifically mention US mining rights, analysts say access to sensitive sectors could potentially include mineral resources.

The deal comes amid longstanding tensions over Greenland’s strategic importance in the Arctic, its mineral resources and its location between North America and Europe.