Leaders from Greenland and Denmark signed a security agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The agreement allows the United States to expand its military presence in Greenland.
Greenland, the largest island in the world, is an autonomous territory of Denmark. It has its own government, but Denmark takes responsibility for the territory’s foreign affairs. Greenland has slowly taken steps toward full independence over the last 50 years.
President Trump first expressed interest in controlling Greenland in 2019. The gap between Greenland and Europe connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Arctic Ocean. It’s a strategic location to monitor Russian submarine and ship activity.
President Trump began talking seriously about acquiring Greenland at the beginning of his second term. He declared that he wouldn’t rule out military force.
Leaders in Greenland and Denmark were adamant that Greenland was not for sale. In January, six other European countries sent Greenland small numbers of military personnel to symbolize solidarity.
In response, President Trump threatened tariffs on countries that opposed U.S. control of Greenland.
Amid the tension, diplomats negotiated behind the scenes for months. President Trump announced a deal on Friday.
The agreement permits the United States to expand the existing American military base in the northwest of Greenland. It also permits the United States to build new “defense areas” in the east and south of Greenland.
In turn, the United States acknowledges Denmark’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.” It recognizes Greenland’s right to decide whether to become an independent country, while Greenland agrees to continue respecting the military arrangement if it does become independent.
All parties concur on the need to protect Greenland’s environment and the Greenlander way of life.
Greenlandic prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told the BBC that “for Greenland, it is not only an agreement about us, it is [an] agreement with us.”
Parliaments in Denmark and Greenland still need to approve the deal before it goes into effect. But most lawmakers express support for the deal.
“I am incredibly relieved and think the outcome is very sensible. We can be satisfied,” says Naaja Nathanielsen, a member of Greenland’s parliament.
