Trump drops Greenland annexation demand as US, Denmark sign defence pact
US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed a trilateral agreement on Tuesday allowing a larger US military presence in Greenland, marking a shift from Trump's earlier push to acquire the strategically located Arctic island.
The agreement, signed in New York during Trump's visit to the UN General Assembly, permits the US to establish a "Golden Dome" missile defence system in Greenland and opens two additional military sites at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig. The US already operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland.
Trump had earlier demanded that Greenland become US territory, citing security concerns linked to the growing presence of Russia and China in the Arctic. His refusal to rule out military or economic force to acquire the island had triggered a diplomatic crisis with Denmark and Greenland.TRUMP CLAIMS 'PERMANENT CONTROL' OVER SECURITY
Speaking at the UN before the signing ceremony, Trump said the agreement gives the US "permanent control over security and all other needs on that territory". He also said no US adversary would be allowed to establish a military presence or make sensitive investments in Greenland without Washington's written approval.
The agreement amends a 1951 US-Denmark defence treaty that provides the legal basis for the American military presence in Greenland. It allows Washington to seek additional military bases in the future, subject to mutual agreement.
The deal has no end date and grants US aircraft and vessels broad access across Greenland and its territorial waters. It also bars non-NATO countries from establishing military installations on the island.GREENLAND STRESSES NATO AND SELF-DETERMINATION
Frederiksen described the agreement as one that could "last forever", while stressing that it supports the NATO alliance and respects Greenland's right to self-determination.
Nielsen also highlighted NATO's role in the Arctic, saying it was vital to keep the alliance strong in the region. He said Greenland now faces the task of rebuilding trust with the US after Trump's earlier threats to take control of the island.
The agreement also places restrictions on foreign investment, limiting control or significant influence by investors from outside NATO, NATO partner countries and the European Union in sectors considered sensitive, including critical infrastructure and resource extraction.
Greenland, a former Danish colony that is now a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, is strategically located between North America and the Arctic. It is also rich in energy and mineral resources.
The agreement still requires approval from the parliaments of Denmark and Greenland. If approved, it would represent the biggest expansion of US military infrastructure in Greenland since the Cold War, when Washington maintained 17 installations and more than 10,000 personnel on the island.- EndsPublished By: Zafar ZaidiPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 05:02 IST
