Trump announces US permanent security role in Greenland

US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would give the United States a permanent role in Greenland’s security, while Greenland remains under Danish sovereignty.

Trump announced the agreement on Friday in a post on Truth Social, saying it would give the United States the ability to secure and defend Greenland. He said the arrangement would prevent US adversaries from establishing military bases, maintaining a military presence or making sensitive investments in Greenland without US approval.

Trump also said the United States would begin developing a large military presence in Greenland and work with Greenlanders on its development.

The agreement does not transfer Greenland’s sovereignty to the United States. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination.

Greenland Premier Jens Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognises Greenland’s interests and its place in international cooperation.

The three parties are expected to sign the agreement next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The proposed arrangement would give the United States permanent access, basing, and overflight rights in Greenland, while restricting military presence and sensitive investments by countries Washington regards as adversaries.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of about 57,000. The United States already operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland under an existing defence agreement with Denmark. The announcement follows months of tension between Washington and Copenhagen after Trump repeatedly said Greenland was strategically important to US national security.

The full terms of the proposed agreement have not yet been made public.