RismadarVoice Reporters
September 19, 2026
US President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says will give the United States permanent authority over security matters in Greenland, announcing the deal on Friday and saying the agreement would address what he described as US security concerns in the strategically important Arctic territory. He also said the deal would have no expiration date.
Under the proposed arrangement, the United States would be able to maintain and expand its military presence in Greenland, while countries regarded as US adversaries would be barred from establishing military bases or making certain sensitive investments without American approval.
Trump said the agreement would enable the US to take measures it considers necessary to protect the security of Greenland and North America.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the arrangement as addressing Washington’s national security concerns in Greenland and said the territory would remain part of the strategic defence area of North America.
However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressed that the agreement would not transfer sovereignty over Greenland to the United States.
Frederiksen said the arrangement would strengthen security cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic while respecting Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of Greenlanders to self-determination.
Greenland’s government also welcomed the agreement, saying it would strengthen the security of Greenland, Denmark, the United States and the wider Western alliance.
The three parties are expected to formally sign the agreement next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to statements from Danish and Greenlandic authorities.
The announcement follows months of tension over Trump’s earlier calls for greater US control of Greenland. In January, he had threatened to pursue control of the territory, including through military means, before later backing away from the possibility of military action.
The United States already maintains military facilities in Greenland under longstanding defence arrangements with Denmark. The proposed agreement would reportedly expand and make permanent aspects of the American military presence.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has strategic importance because of its location between North America and Europe and its proximity to the Arctic. Its mineral resources and position have also contributed to growing interest from major powers, including the United States, Russia and China.
The exact legal terms and implementation details of the newly announced agreement are expected to become clearer when the document is formally signed.
