WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland granting Washington permanent control over security in the Arctic territory, while Denmark says its sovereignty remains unaffected.
Trump has repeatedly argued since returning to the White House in January 2025 that US control of Greenland is necessary for strategic and security reasons. His position has raised concerns in Denmark and prompted strong opposition from the NATO ally.
Denmark and Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, welcomed the agreement and said they would sign it on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
However, details of the agreement have yet to be made public, and Denmark has maintained that its sovereignty over Greenland remains intact.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said the agreement would give the United States permanent control over security and other requirements in Greenland.
He said the deal would prevent US adversaries from establishing military bases or maintaining military deployments in Greenland, or making sensitive investments there, without Washington’s approval.
Trump described the arrangement as an “‘Infinite Life’ Agreement” and said there would be no end to it.
He also said the United States would immediately begin expanding its military presence in Greenland, although the agreement’s specific provisions and the scope of any increased US presence remain unclear.