Denmark and Greenland clarified on Saturday that any agreement reached with the United States would not infringe upon Greenland’s sovereignty. This statement follows US President Donald Trump’s remarks suggesting the deal would grant Washington “permanent control” over the Arctic island’s security, leaving the agreement’s exact terms ambiguous.
Late Friday, the United States, Denmark, and Greenland announced they had reached an accord allowing the US to establish a substantial military presence on Greenland. The pact also restricts adversarial nations from constructing bases on the island. However, key aspects of the agreement, such as the scale of the US military deployment and whether any authority over foreign policy or natural resources would be transferred to Washington, remain undisclosed.
Both Denmark and Greenland expressed optimism that the agreement, anticipated to be signed during the upcoming UN General Assembly, would resolve months of uncertainty sparked by Trump’s earlier threats to seize Greenland. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen commented on Facebook, “Next week could be a good week—for Greenland, Denmark, and the United States.” He added that the accord aims to replace a period of uncertainty with a binding deal that enhances security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, thereby reinforcing shared NATO and European security, while respecting Denmark’s established boundaries.
Repeatedly, Denmark and Greenland have emphasized that the United States must respect the sovereignty of the Danish Kingdom and acknowledged that Greenland is not on the market. Meanwhile, Trump stated on Truth Social late Friday that the deal grants the US “FOREVER the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.” He asserted that the agreement gives America “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland,” and that no adversary would be allowed military presence or sensitive investments without explicit US approval.
Political science expert Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen from the University of Copenhagen noted that this deal likely does not mark the end of US ambitions in Greenland or its strategic interests in the region and its resources. He also raised concerns that if Copenhagen transfers any formal powers to Washington, it might signal a shift from Danish colonial ties to a new form of US influence over Greenland.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen expressed satisfaction with the proposed arrangement, stating on Facebook that the agreement acknowledges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.
Trump’s earlier threats, which escalated in January, had provoked a diplomatic rift within NATO and pressured Denmark and Greenland to negotiate a solution to ease tensions. A NATO spokesperson welcomed the agreement on Saturday, emphasizing that it would “help advance security, stability and cooperation in this vital region.”
Public opinion in Denmark reflects mixed feelings. Steffen Nielsen, a 49-year-old sales worker from Copenhagen, remarked, “I think that the US is probably going to get what they could have had the whole time, if they just asked nicely.” Conversely, Kaj Jorgensen, an 80-year-old pensioner also from Copenhagen, expressed disapproval, saying, “I don’t like it. I don’t wish the United States to be present anywhere in the Danish Kingdom. I really don’t trust Donald Trump.”
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