Trump announces agreement on Greenland, Denmark confirms. What's known

Trump announces agreement on Greenland, Denmark confirms. What's known

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that gives the US “permanent control” over Greenland security, banning the military presence or sensitive investments of “adversary” countries. Copenhagen confirmed that the agreement should be signed next week.

© Leon Neal/Getty Images


19/09/2026
by

News to Minute, Lusa

Donald Trump announced on Friday an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that gives the United States “permanent control over security” of Greenland, also banning in this Danish territory any military presence or sensitive investments from “adversary” countries. Copenhagen has already confirmed that the agreement should be signed next week.

 

On its own social network, Truth Social, the US President pointed out that “the United States of America signed an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland that gives the United States permanent control over security – and all other needs – in Greenland, fully meeting ALL our numerous concerns,” adding that the agreement will have “no cost” for the US.

“ Moreover, from now on, no US opponent can in any case have a military base or presence in Greenland, nor make sensitive investments in the territory without our express written approval,” he said. 

“ For more than 100 years, the presidents acknowledged the strategic importance of Greenland, but NO one of them could do anything about it. I am proud to be the President who has permanently and definitively resolved this very important situation. This is a ‘perpetuity’ agreement; there is no deadline to end!”, he praised.

In his publication, Trump also stated that Washington “will immediately initiate the process of developing a great military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland”, where “there are many suitable areas”, working with the people of Greenland “in its development and construction”. 

“ This is an excellent solution for the United States of America, Denmark, Greenland and all our allies. We hope to work with the wonderful peoples of Denmark and Greenland for a magnificent future for this vast and highly strategic extension of land. We'll take care of her. It is the realisation of a dream for the United States of America – a very important dream, historical and special ", Trump also said.

Denmark and Greenland responded: “Perspective of a good agreement”

“ I welcome the prospect of a good agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States.”, stated Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a statement following an announcement by American President Donald Trump.

The agreement “strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic and is therefore beneficial to NATO and Europe,” said Frederiksen.

Copenhagen reported that the signing is scheduled for next week, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

In turn, Greenland’s head of government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed the agreement “which guarantees and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western Alliance”.

“The agreement recognizes Greenland’s interests and our role in international cooperation. This benefits us all”, he said.

Trump threatened last year to take control of Greenland

Remember that Trump threatened several times last year to take control of Greenland, not even excluding the use of force, generating alarm in Denmark and among NATO allies.

Following a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Davos in January announced that he had “formed the structure” of a future Greenland agreement and withdrew the tariff threat previously made to countries supporting Denmark in the dispute.

A 1951 defence agreement under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and which is formally in force, governs the US military presence in Greenland, including ways to expand it.

Denmark has sovereign jurisdiction over Greenland, but the United States has exclusive jurisdiction over its own military facilities in the territory, where the Pituffik Space Base operates, which supports missile alert, missile defense and space surveillance.

The defence pact, last updated in 2004, already allows Washington to increase the deployment of troops on the island, provided that the authorities of Denmark and Greenland are informed in advance.

A head of the State Department stated anonymously that the agreement guarantees that China and Russia “cannot install military bases” or send troops to Greenland, establishing “mechanisms to prevent any investment in sensitive sectors.”.

The agreement, said the same person, gives “explicitly to the United States full capacity to act in Greenland as they deem necessary to ensure the security and defence of the American continent” and allows the number of U.S. bases to increase in the territory “as needed”.

Trump announces agreement with Denmark on Greenland “security”

Donald Trump announced an agreement between the United States, Denmark and Greenland which, according to the US President, will give Washington “permanent control over the security” of the island. Copenhagen confirmed that the agreement should be signed next week.

Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues

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