Agreement with the US will continue if Greenland becomes independent

“ Nthe case of Greenland exercising its right to self-determination and becoming independent”, the understanding, released after the signing ceremony, provides that “it explicitly assumes, from the date of independence, all rights and obligations of the Kingdom of Denmark as provided for in this Agreement”.

This implies that “the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Government of Greenland will jointly ensure that the independent Greenland State agrees to remain a NATO member”, including the submission of an application for membership of the Atlantic Alliance, “if necessary”.

The signing was held during a ceremony on the margins of the UN General Assembly by the Heads of Government of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and the US President, Donald Trump, who during this year threatened to use force to annex the Arctic territory.

On Friday, the parties confirmed that they had agreed, after months of negotiation, without giving details of the content, and the Danish leader stressed that her country's sovereignty over Greenland was ensured.

The agreement released today also provides that the United States will build two military bases on Danish territory.

“ The United States will be authorised to establish an additional defence zone in Narsarsuaq [south] and Mestersvig [east],” according to Article 4 of the document.

Washington shall grant contracts for goods and services related to the installation, maintenance or dismantling of these bases “to Greenland suppliers as far as possible”.

US forces may also modernise and expand their operations on their only active base, Pituffik, located in the north of the island.

At the same time, the commitment prohibits the control of strategic sectors in the territory of any actor outside the European Union or who is not a NATO member or partner.

States or investors outside these two organisations “can’t exercise control” or use “significant influence or access to non-public information that could pose a threat to national security or public policy” in “particularly sensitive” sectors or activities on the territory.

This impediment is justified, in accordance with the understanding, by the “threat to national security and public order represented by the growing efforts of opponents to extend their influence and control in Greenland”.

In particular, no non-NATO country will be able to install “its own manned or unmanned military facilities in Greenland” or maintain a “persistent” military presence unless the signatories otherwise agree.

The agreement also provides for broad US military mobility in the territory, including “submarine access”.

During the ceremony in New York, Donald Trump welcomed the agreement as “something extraordinary for Europe, the United States, the whole world and Greenland.”.

The American President noted that the people of the territory have been “very kind and incredible”, anticipating “a fantastic and lasting relationship” with the United States.

The Danish Prime Minister commented for her side “an agreement that can last forever”, considering it beneficial for her country and Greenland, and also for the United States and NATO.

“Sir President, you were very clear: you do not want opponents to get too close,” Mette Frederiksen said, addressing Trump, adding: “I fully agree”.

Along the same lines, the chief executive of Greenland praised “an agreement in which everyone wins”, stating that the security of the United States is also that of the Arctic territory.

Previously, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that understanding allows Washington to build “as many military bases as necessary” and also linked it to US national security.

“ It is permanent, it is forever, because this agreement has no expiration date,” Rubio stressed in an interview with the Fox News chain, referring specifically to the “defense of the Arctic” and the maritime routes in the region.

“ This allows us to start an investment process together with Denmark. Thanks to this, we will avoid waking up one day and realizing that Chinese companies have already arrived and, for all practical purposes, have taken over the territory, as they have done elsewhere,” he said.

Trump's plans, repeated on several occasions during the year, to appropriate Greenland and its natural resources, caused high tension with NATO, and the Danish Prime Minister warned that the survival of the Atlantic Alliance itself was at stake.

The impasse has sparked concern among the approximately 56,000 inhabitants of Greenland and has created a gulf between the United States and Denmark and its partners in the European Union, who have intensified security exercises and financial support for the island.

The US Vice President, JD Vance, visited Greenland in March 2025, a trip that the authorities of Nuuk and Copenhagen received as a provocation.

A 1951 defense agreement, updated in 2004, already granted the US military virtually carte blanche to install facilities in Greenland, provided they notified the authorities.

Currently, the United States only relies on the base of the Pituffik Space Force (formerly Thule base) on the island after decades of reduction in its presence, although the Danish authorities stressed that this policy was a Washington decision.