US and Denmark Agree Greenland Security Deal

The United States and Denmark have announced an agreement covering security arrangements for Greenland, ending a dispute that was triggered by repeated threats from US President Donald Trump to seize the territory by force.

The US and Denmark said the deal responds to concerns over the island’s strategic position and its role in defence planning in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. No full text of the agreement has been made public.

Trump Pitched Security Control For The US

Trump said the arrangement would give the US “permanent control” over security and other related needs, and he claimed it would be provided with “no cost” to the United States. He said it would allow the US to take the steps needed to secure and defend Greenland.

In his post on Truth Social, Trump said the terms include a provision that would prevent any US adversary from maintaining a military presence in Greenland or making sensitive investments there without the US receiving prior written approval.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later described the outcome as a major development, calling it a “historic deal” and a “huge win” for the United States.

Denmark Links The Deal To Arctic Security And Sovereignty

Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said the agreement would strengthen security across the Arctic and the North Atlantic, while recognising Greenland’s political status within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Frederiksen said the deal also acknowledges Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the right of Greenlandic people to self-determination. She added that the agreement still requires approval from legislators and will go through the parliamentary process before taking effect.

Frederiksen said the deal will be signed at the United Nations General Assembly next week.

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed the announcement, saying it would ensure and strengthen the security of Greenland, Denmark and the US. He said it recognises Greenland’s interests and its place in international cooperation.

Unpublished Text, But Officials Describe Key Terms

For months, Trump had threatened to “take” Greenland, citing national security concerns and the island’s mineral resources. He argued Greenland is vulnerable to adversaries including Russia and China, and he also suggested military action, prompting criticism from Denmark and other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies.

Although the agreement has not been released, an unnamed US State Department official described elements of the arrangement.

The official said the deal would not expire even if Greenland were to become independent. They also said the US would be able to build additional military structures without needing approval from Greenland or Denmark, and that it would have “permanent access, basing and overflights rights”.

The official further said the terms would bar non-NATO countries from building bases in Greenland. It would also restrict Russia, China and other adversaries from making investments in Greenland that could threaten the United States. The official added that, under the previous situation, adversaries were able to invest in sensitive sectors without investment screening.

The official did not provide the precise wording of the agreement, and without the text it remained unclear how the new deal compares with an existing 1951 arrangement with Denmark, under which the US can send troops to Greenland.

The US already maintains more than 100 personnel at its Pituffik base at the north-western tip of the island.

Trump has also linked the Greenland issue to his plan for a “Golden Dome” defence system designed to protect the US from missile attacks, particularly from Russia and China, and he has said European partners could cooperate in the effort. Greenland has large reserves of rare earth minerals, which are used in technologies including mobile phones and electric vehicles.

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19 September 2026