The deal follows Trump’s repeated threats to annex Greenland—a move he insisted was a matter of “national security,” on account of the mineral-rich Arctic territory’s positioning between the U.S., Russia, and Europe. Trump has long argued that Denmark cannot be relied upon to protect the island. Tensions reached a critical point earlier this year, when he threatened to tariff European allies until Greenland fell under U.S. control, and suggested he may pull the U.S. out of NATO over the tussle.
Instead, in a speech at the U.N. gathering, Trump said the deal gives the U.S. "permanent control over security and all other needs on that territory" and emphasized that "no U.S. adversary will ever be permitted to establish a military presence in Greenland any more, or make sensitive investments there without our express written approval."
Danish and Greenlandic officials have expressed hope over the agreement, while emphasizing that the U.S. military arrangement will not compromise the territory’s sovereignty—a fear among Greenlanders following Trump’s pressure campaign.
The U.S. already has one base in Greenland, the Pituffik Space Base, which is located in the northwest of the territory and provides missile warning and space surveillance capabilities. Per the new deal, the U.S. will be allowed to establish additional "defense area[s]" on the island, specifically at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig."
“This is a significant feat for Danish diplomacy in that they got this deal, in this form. They've taken the temperature down with this [Trump] Administration in a way that I don't see it really flaring up again, because the President is viewing it as a win," she tells TIME.
Trump has stressed that the agreement gives Washington “permanent control” over Greenland’s security, concerns over which he has positioned at the center of his campaign for U.S. to control the island. “World peace is at stake,” he claimed, earlier this year, insisting that “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.”
The new agreement ensures that no American “adversary” can establish a base in Greenland, have a military presence on the island, or make "sensitive investments” in the territory without written approval from the U.S.
The permanence of the deal is a development from what was in place before, experts tell TIME.
Meanwhile, the new agreement’s provisions regarding future investments in Greenland are noteworthy, but not groundbreaking, according to Taussig.
Some previous attempts at foreign investments in Greenland were reportedly thwarted by the U.S.
What have Denmark and Greenland said?
Officials from Denmark and Greenland showed support for the new agreement ahead of the signing ceremony.
Denmark, over the weekend, continued to reaffirm its position on the issue of sovereignty. The deal “respects the red lines we have set up and that respects our sovereignty,” said Rasmussen, asserting that such red lines are “something we have insisted on from the start… in a long and difficult series of meetings,” pointing towards previous discussions with Washington over the issue.
Ahead of travelling to New York, the Greenlandic leader acknowledged the fresh start and said he hopes there can now be more “peace around our country.”
“The Arctic and the North Atlantic are essential for our collective security, and this agreement will help advance security, stability, and cooperation in this vital region,” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart told TIME.
“I do not see much changing for NATO with this deal,” says Taussig. “This is a good news story for the alliance—the fact that we now have a deal that takes away the political irritant [of annexation threats].”
In June, the alliance also established Forward Land Forces (FLF) Finland. Led by framework nation Sweden, "FLF Finland will enhance deterrence and the defence on NATO’s northeastern flank and contribute to the security of the Arctic and the High North," NATO said at the time of the launch.
What did the 1951 agreement between the U.S. and Denmark give Washington?
Barring the permanence of the fresh agreement, and its tighter restrictions on investments from adversaries, Wæver says: “The reality is that the new deal is indeed very close to the 1951 treaty.”
Per the agreement, the U.S. can establish and operate military bases on the island that Washington and Denmark both agree is “necessary for the development of the defense of Greenland and the rest of the North Atlantic Treaty area.”
Alongside general military operations, the 1951 arrangement also stipulated that the U.S. can station and house U.S. military and civilian personnel within said bases, control related aircraft and shipping, as well as develop necessary infrastructure. “The 1951 agreement already gave the United States relatively unfettered military access to Greenland,” says Taussig.
The terms of U.S. military presence were developed further in 2004 under the Igaliku agreement, in which Washington committed to consulting with and informing Greenland and Denmark of any significant changes to military facilities or operations within the territory.
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