President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States had reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland granting Washington permanent control over the Arctic island’s security.
“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 said on his Truth Social platform.
He added that the agreement would prevent US adversaries from establishing bases, maintaining military forces or making sensitive investments in Greenland without Washington’s written approval.
The deal has no expiry date, Trump said.
In a joint statement, the Danish and Greenlandic governments said the United States, Denmark and Greenland had reached a breakthrough in their dispute over the strategically important Arctic island.
“I am pleased that there is a prospect of a good agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.
She added that the agreement was expected to be signed next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has repeatedly called on Denmark to sell Greenland to the United States, arguing that the island is vital to American security.
Denmark and Greenland have consistently said the island is not for sale and have rejected reports that Washington was conducting intelligence-gathering operations there.
