The United States and Denmark said Friday they have reached an agreement on Greenland’s security, ending a diplomatic dispute triggered by President Donald Trump’s threats to seize the territory by force.
Trump said the deal grants Washington “permanent control over security, and all other needs.”
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that the agreement comes at no cost to the United States and ensures America can “do what is necessary to secure” and defend the security of Greenland.
He added that adversaries would be barred from maintaining a military presence or making “sensitive investments” in Greenland without US approval.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the deal will be signed at next week’s United Nations General Assembly. She said it “strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area” while also recognizing “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self‑determination.” She noted the deal still requires parliamentary approval in both Copenhagen and Nuuk.
Greenland’s government chairman Jens‑Frederik Nielsen welcomed the agreement, saying it “ensures and strengthens the security” of Greenland, Denmark and the US, while recognizing Greenland’s role in international cooperation. “It is for the benefit of us all,” he said.
The deal follows months of Trump’s attempts to purchase or annex the mineral‑rich territory, citing its strategic location and vulnerability to adversaries such as Russia and China. He even threatened military action, sparking outrage in Denmark and among NATO allies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the pact as a “historic deal” and a “huge win for the United States and the American people,” saying it “permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland.”
However, no text of the agreement has been released.
The BBC reported that the Danish Embassy and the White House had been contacted for details. A US State Department official, speaking anonymously, outlined provisions without specifics. Among them: the deal would remain in force even if Greenland became independent; the US would have unilateral authority to build military structures without approval from Denmark or Greenland; and Washington would retain “permanent access, basing and overflight rights.”
The official said the agreement bans non‑NATO countries from building bases in Greenland and prohibits adversaries from investing in sectors deemed sensitive to US security. Russia and China were cited as examples, with the official noting that under current rules adversaries have been able to invest without screening.
It remains unclear how the new deal differs from a 1951 agreement with Denmark that already allows the US to deploy unlimited troops to Greenland. The US currently maintains more than 100 personnel at its Pituffik base in the territory’s north‑west.
