ABSTRACT

US President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached an agreement on security in Greenland, saying it gives Washington "permanent control over security, and all other needs" in the Arctic territory, which remains a semiautonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The office of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal will be signed by all three governments next week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with parliamentary action still required by the Danish and Greenlandic governments before it can take effect. According to the Associated Press, officials from the three governments negotiated quietly for months to address some of Trump's security concerns about the territory of roughly 56,000 residents. The text of the agreement has not been released.

Boston.com

Trump announces security agreement with Denmark and Greenland on US military presence

Sep 19, 2026, 9:29 AM

Context

Trump said in a social media post that "from now on, no US adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval," and that his administration would "immediately" begin developing a larger military presence on the mineral-rich territory. He also said, according to Arab News, that it was an "'Infinite Life' Agreement, there is no end!" and that "we look forward to working with the wonderful people of Denmark and Greenland toward a magnificent future with respect to this large, and highly strategic, parcel of land."

An unnamed State Department official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said the agreement bans any non-NATO base in Greenland, limits adversaries from investing there, and guarantees that China and Russia cannot have a base on the island. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a "historic deal" and a "huge win" for the United States, saying "Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement "recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people's right "to self-determination," and described it as "great for NATO and Europe." Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said a "long period of uncertainty will hopefully be replaced by a binding agreement that strengthens security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, and thereby our shared security within NATO and Europe," adding that it respected the Kingdom's "red lines." Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement "recognises Greenland's interests" and is "to the benefit of us all."

Greenland's foreign minister, Múte B. Egede, told Denmark's TV2 that he was pleased "we finally have an agreement within reach" and that "it's about time." Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the NATO Military Committee, said in Copenhagen that the agreement was "very, very welcome," without commenting further.

Since returning to the White House, Trump had called on Denmark to sell the island, insisted Greenland was crucial to US security, and would not rule out taking it by military force, even though Denmark is a NATO ally. Denmark and Greenland repeatedly said the island was not for sale and condemned reports of US intelligence gathering there. The US push was also opposed by Russia and much of Europe, according to the Associated Press.

The US has long had a military presence in Greenland, holding several bases and installations during the Cold War before reducing it. It still operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, built after the US and Denmark signed the Defense of Greenland Treaty in 1951, which supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance for the US and NATO. Arab News reported that a 1951 defense pact, updated in 2004, already allows Washington to increase troop deployments and installations if it informs Denmark and Greenland in advance.

The New York Post reported that the announcement came 17 days after Greenland Mines, a NASDAQ-listed firm headquartered in North Carolina, closed a deal for the Sarfartoq Rare Earths Project in southwest Greenland, which the company said has an estimated value of $2.05 billion and could produce about one-third of refined rare earth magnet supply outside China. The New York Post also said Reuters reported before the announcement that parties were close to an agreement allowing components of Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system to be housed in Greenlandic territory. Arab News said several media outlets reported the US wants to open three new military bases in southern Greenland in addition to Pituffik.

In Nuuk, residents expressed mixed views, according to AFP. Soren Kreutzmann, a 29-year-old hairdresser, said he had "mixed feelings" and was "not entirely comfortable with how much attention Greenland has right now." Bibbi Kleist Jepsen, a 64-year-old educator, said she hoped leaders had made a good agreement because "our country needs to be protected, both from the air and sea" and Denmark had not given that enough attention for many years. In Denmark, Michael Burgaard, a 56-year-old telecommunications worker, said he was hopeful the crisis was over, while Michael Frees, a 51-year-old teacher, called it "the most realistic solution for us right now."

All Perspectives

President Donald Trump: Said the agreement "gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns," that "from now on, no US adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval," and that the US would "immediately" begin developing a larger military presence. He described it as an "'Infinite Life' Agreement, there is no end!" and said he looked forward to working with the people of Denmark and Greenland toward a magnificent future.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen: Said the agreement "recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people's right "to self-determination," calling it "great for NATO and Europe" and "good for NATO and Europe," and saying it "strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic Area."

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen: Said the agreement "recognises Greenland's interests," is "to the benefit of us all," and benefits "not only our collective security, but also the continued development here in the country."

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen: Said a "long period of uncertainty will hopefully be replaced by a binding agreement that strengthens security in the Arctic and North Atlantic — and thus also our shared security within NATO and Europe" while respecting the Kingdom's "red lines," adding "next week could be a good week … for Greenland, Denmark, and the United States alike."

Greenland Foreign Minister Múte B. Egede: Told Denmark's TV2 he was pleased "we now have an agreement within reach" and "that we finally have an end product within reach. And it's about time."

US State Department official (unnamed): Said the agreement "guarantees that China and Russia cannot have a base in Greenland, they cannot send troops to Greenland, and the necessary mechanisms are in place to prevent investment in sensitive sectors," and that it bans any non-NATO base and limits adversary investment.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio: Called the statement a "historic deal" and "huge win" for the United States, saying "Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area" and that the deal "permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland."

Greenland Mines president Bo Møller Stensgaard: Praised the deal, saying "today's announcement underscores what we have long believed: Greenland is becoming one of the most strategically important regions in the world," applauding the US and the governments of Greenland and Denmark for advancing a framework that strengthens security, deepens cooperation among longstanding allies and recognises Greenland's importance, and saying the same strategic importance extends to critical minerals.

Greenland pro-sovereignty activist Orla Joelsen: Wrote on X that "our fight against Trump's ambition to take over Greenland has been won," adding that "the new agreement explicitly recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination."

Marc Jacobsen, Royal Danish Defense College: Said it is "obvious that we can expect more bases in Greenland" but noted the US had immense military presence there in the past, especially during the Cold War, and called it a win for Trump, for whom "it's important to show that he's a good businessman, that he kind of forced the pressure on Denmark and Greenland into something new."

Ulrik Pram Gad, Danish Institute for International Studies: Said Trump tries to sell it as a win but "he obviously didn't get in this agreement what he originally set out to have — that is sovereign control over all of Greenland as a part of the United States."

Imran Bayoumi, Atlantic Council: Said "Americans really underestimate how damaging it was for the image of the United States in Europe," adding that "Greenlanders, Danes, Europeans saw this as a real attack on their sovereignty, and it's going to take a lot of work to repair."

Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, NATO Military Committee chair: Said the agreement was "very, very welcome," without commenting further.

Nuuk residents: Soren Kreutzmann, a hairdresser, said "I don't know exactly what the agreement is or what has been signed. But whenever the US and Trump are mentioned, I have mixed feelings. I'm not entirely comfortable with how much attention Greenland has right now." Bibbi Kleist Jepsen, an educator, said "we hope the leaders have made a good agreement, because our country needs to be protected, both from the air and sea. Denmark had not given that enough attention for many years."

Danish residents: Michael Burgaard said he was hopeful the crisis was over "because just a fortnight ago, Donald Trump posted this map showing Greenland ... as part of the U.S." and "we were kind of worried that he would take all of Greenland by force. So, the fact that we can settle this in a diplomatic way ... I think it's good." Michael Frees said he thinks the agreement is "the most realistic solution for us right now," adding "we are a small nation and of course we have to cooperate with bigger countries."

Position not represented in the source reporting: Russia; China; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Where sources differ

Population figures differ: PBS NewsHour, the Associated Press (via Boston.com) and NPR describe the territory as having roughly 56,000 residents, while Arab News gives 57,000 inhabitants.
Characterisation of the deal differs: Trump describes it as giving the US "permanent control over security, and all other needs" in Greenland, while Denmark and Greenland say it leaves sovereignty intact and recognises the Kingdom's sovereignty and Greenland's right to self-determination.
Whether the deal changes existing arrangements is unclear: PBS NewsHour notes Denmark and the US already have a long-standing security agreement allowing US force deployments and that it was not immediately clear how the new deal differs, while Arab News notes a 1951 pact updated in 2004 already permits increased deployments and cites reports of three new bases.
The link to an earlier arrangement is unresolved: Arab News says it was not clear whether the deal is linked to or substantially different from the purported deal Trump reached with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at Davos in January.

Gaps & Unknowns

No source provides the text of the agreement, and key details remain unpublished, including the scale of the US military presence, whether formal power over foreign policy and resources would be ceded to Washington, and how the deal differs from existing arrangements.
Denmark and Greenland did not explicitly confirm the specifics in Trump's statements or provide more detail, according to the Associated Press.
It is not established whether the deal is linked to or substantially different from the purported Davos deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, whose terms Arab News describes as having remained vague.
The reported plans for three new US bases in southern Greenland, and the reported plan to house components of the Golden Dome missile defense system there, are attributed to unnamed media reports and are not confirmed by the parties.
Russia and China, whose access the agreement is said to bar, are not quoted or given any response in any source.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte does not comment in any source.
No source establishes the date of the signing beyond "next week" at the UN General Assembly, nor the timetable for the required parliamentary action.

Sources & Further Reading

Al Jazeera English — original — by Al Jazeera Staff
PBS NewsHour — by James Brooks, Associated Press
New York Post — by Geoff Earle
Boston.com — by Associated Press
Arab News — by AFP
NPR News — by The Associated Press

Read the original at Al Jazeera English

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