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President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would give Washington “permanent control over security” on the strategically important Arctic island, paving the way for an expanded American military presence while leaving Greenland under Danish sovereignty.
The agreement has not yet been signed, and its full terms have not been publicly released. Danish officials said the three governments expect to sign it next week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, after which it would still require parliamentary approval in Denmark and Greenland before taking effect.
Trump described the arrangement as giving the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs” in Greenland. He also said the agreement would prevent U.S. adversaries from establishing military bases or troop deployments on the island and would require American approval for sensitive investments by those countries.
The emerging agreement appears aimed in part at limiting the ability of countries outside NATO, particularly China and Russia, to establish a military or economic foothold in Greenland. U.S. officials have also discussed expanding American military access, including permanent access and overflight rights, according to reporting on the negotiations.
But Trump’s description of “permanent control” goes further than what Danish and Greenlandic officials have publicly said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement recognizes “the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognizes Greenland’s interests and its role in international cooperation.
There is no indication in the publicly available descriptions that the deal transfers Greenland’s territory or sovereignty to the United States. Greenland remains a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, while Denmark retains responsibility for foreign affairs.
A New Agreement Built on a 1951 Defense Pact
The proposed arrangement would build on a defense agreement the United States and Denmark signed in 1951. That pact already gave Washington broad rights concerning the defense of Greenland, including the ability to establish and operate defense areas.
A 2004 amendment, signed with the participation of Greenland’s Home Rule government, further established procedures governing U.S. military operations and facilities. It designated Thule Air Base — now known as Pituffik Space Base — as Greenland’s sole defense area at the time and required consultation with Danish and Greenlandic authorities before significant changes to U.S. military operations or facilities.
The precise ways the new agreement would alter or expand those existing authorities remain unclear because the text has not been released.
The United States already maintains a military presence in Greenland, including the Pituffik Space Base, and has long regarded the island as strategically important because of its location between North America and Europe and its role in Arctic defense and missile-warning systems.
The Pentagon also shifted Greenland from the U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility to U.S. Northern Command in 2025, placing the island under the command responsible for North American defense.
Months of Tensions Over Greenland
The agreement follows months of tensions between Washington and Copenhagen after Trump repeatedly called for the United States to acquire Greenland and declined to rule out using military force to obtain it.
Danish and Greenlandic leaders rejected the idea of selling or transferring the territory, while European allies raised concerns about the implications for NATO relations. Those tensions eventually gave way to confidential negotiations involving U.S., Danish and Greenlandic officials.
The talks focused on U.S. security concerns, greater military access and the strategic importance of Greenland’s location and natural resources.
The proposed agreement would allow the United States to expand its military presence while establishing restrictions intended to prevent non-NATO countries from gaining a military foothold or making sensitive investments on the island.
For now, however, the agreement remains incomplete. Its text has not been made public, and the governments of Denmark and Greenland must complete their respective parliamentary procedures before it can take effect.
