President Donald Trump announced a new deal with Denmark on Friday that grants the United States “permanent control over security” in Greenland.
“I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns,” the president said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump said the agreement comes at “NO COST” to the U.S. and that it is an “Infinite Life’ Agreement, there is no end!”
The deal includes barring any U.S. adversary from ever being able to have a base or military presence in Greenland, or “make sensitive investments” there without written approval from the U.S., Trump said.
A State Department official said in a statement to NBC News that the agreement explicitly bans any non-NATO base or troop presence in Greenland. It also includes screening mechanisms intended to block investments from Russia and China and bans them, and other adversaries, from making investments in Greenland that could threaten the U.S.
“Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. “This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland.”
Trump said that the administration will work with Greenland to immediately begin developing a “large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many.”
“At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
Leaders of Denmark and Greenland said in a statement Friday that Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. are expected to sign the agreement next week in connection with the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized in a statement Friday that the agreement does not give the U.S. sovereignty over Greenland.
She described the deal as “an agreement that strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area and is therefore also good for NATO and Europe,” Frederiksen wrote. “And an agreement that at the same time recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.”
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chairman of the Greenland government, wrote in a statement that the deal is “to the benefit of us all.”
“It is gratifying that we are about to enter into an agreement that ensures and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western alliance. The agreement recognizes Greenland’s interests and our place in international cooperation,” Nielsen wrote.
A State Department official told NBC News that the agreement will remain fully in effect “forever,” including “if Greenland becomes a fully independent country” from Denmark.
“The agreement explicitly guarantees the United States the complete ability to do what it deems is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the American continent, including permanent access, basing, and overflight rights,” the official said. “This agreement ensures the necessary U.S. military presence in Greenland permanently, allowing the U.S. military to increase the number of bases in Greenland as required.”
The agreement to establish the American military presence in Greenland follows Trump’s threats in January to take the country “one way or the other.”
While the president later toned down the threat of military action against Greenland, his administration continued its efforts to gain power there, including a visit from the U.S. special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, in May.
Trump’s approach to the country has sparked outrage from Greenlanders, who consistently have shown in polls that they overwhelmingly reject American annexation.
Despite the strong opposition to Trump’s threats, Greenland’s government had been participating in negotiations alongside Denmark and the U.S. to find a solution on security concerns.
Greenland has long been contested among the U.S., Russia and China because of its strategic position in the region and its vast mineral resources.
