Denmark, Greenland and US to Sign Security Deal

Denmark, Greenland and the United States are set to sign a new agreement on Greenland’s security on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly in New York. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the deal would place responsibility for Arctic security more broadly with NATO rather than leaving it solely to Washington and Copenhagen.

The agreement follows months of pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has said the United States should control Greenland and at times refused to rule out military or economic force to acquire the self-governing Danish territory.

The exact terms have not been made public. Trump has claimed that the agreement gives the US “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland” and that no US adversary could establish a base or military presence there without Washington’s written approval.

Denmark and Greenland have not commented on Trump’s claim but have said the agreement will respect Greenland’s sovereignty and benefit the island. Rasmussen added that Copenhagen is prepared to accommodate legitimate US security interests. NATO welcomed the agreement, noting that it would help advance security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic.

Denmark has acknowledged that it underinvested in Greenland’s defense for decades and has pledged to expand its military presence on the island, including through a greater NATO presence. Greenland’s government has sought to reassure the public about the agreement.

It remains unclear whether the deal will amend the 1951 defense agreement that provides the legal basis for the US military presence in Greenland.

(Reuters, max)