The United States and Denmark have reached a new agreement on Greenland's security, easing a diplomatic dispute that intensified after US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to take control of the territory.
Trump said the agreement would give the United States extensive and permanent authority over Greenland's security and other defence-related needs. He also said the deal would allow Washington to take whatever measures it considers necessary to protect the territory and prevent potential adversaries from establishing a military presence or making sensitive investments there.
The agreement was announced after months of tension between Washington and Copenhagen over Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump had repeatedly argued that Greenland's strategic position and mineral resources made it essential to US national security and had previously refused to rule out the use of military force to take control of the island.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement would strengthen security cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic while recognising Denmark's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination.
Frederiksen said the agreement is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly next week. It will still require approval through the relevant parliamentary procedures before it can take effect.
Greenland's government also welcomed the agreement, saying it would strengthen the security of Greenland, Denmark and the United States while recognising Greenland's interests and its role in international cooperation.
Deal expands US military access
Although the full text of the agreement has not yet been released, details provided by a US State Department official indicate that the deal would significantly expand Washington's military access and security powers in Greenland.
Under the reported provisions, the agreement would remain in effect even if Greenland eventually became an independent country. The United States would also receive permanent rights covering access, military basing and overflights.
The reported terms would allow the US to construct additional military facilities in Greenland without requiring separate approval from Greenlandic or Danish authorities.
The agreement would also prohibit non-NATO countries from establishing military bases on the island and introduce restrictions on investments by countries considered a security threat to the United States.
The measures are understood to be aimed particularly at Russia and China. The US says the agreement would prevent those countries from deploying military forces in Greenland and restrict their involvement in strategically sensitive sectors of the territory's economy.
However, significant questions remain because the agreement's official text has not been publicly released.
It is also unclear how much the new arrangement would change existing US military rights in Greenland. Under a 1951 defence agreement between the United States and Denmark, Washington already has broad rights to deploy military personnel to the territory.
The United States currently maintains more than 100 military personnel at Pituffik Space Base, a strategically important installation in north-western Greenland.
Trump had pushed for control of Greenland
The agreement follows months of increasingly contentious statements from Trump about Greenland.
Trump had sought to acquire or otherwise bring the territory under US control, arguing that Greenland's location makes it strategically important for the defence of North America. He has also highlighted its substantial deposits of rare earth elements and other minerals that are important to modern technologies.
His comments prompted strong opposition from Denmark and Greenland, as well as concern among other NATO members.
Trump has also linked Greenland to his plans for the proposed Golden Dome missile defence system, which is intended to strengthen US protection against potential missile attacks. He has argued that Greenland could play an important role because of its location between North America and Europe and its proximity to Russia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the new agreement as a major achievement for Washington, saying it addresses American national security concerns relating to Greenland.
The Danish government, however, has emphasised that the agreement recognises Greenland's existing constitutional status and the Greenlandic people's right to determine their own future.
Greenland's strategic and mineral importance
Greenland is the world's largest island and occupies a strategically important position between North America and Europe. Its location makes it significant for military surveillance, missile defence, airspace monitoring and Arctic security.
The territory also contains substantial mineral resources, including rare earth elements used in products such as smartphones, electric vehicles and advanced defence equipment.
Many of Greenland's mineral deposits remain largely undeveloped because of the island's harsh climate, remote geography and limited infrastructure.
The new US-Denmark agreement is therefore likely to have implications beyond military security, particularly regarding foreign investment and access to strategically important resources.
For now, the precise scope of the agreement remains uncertain. The absence of a publicly released text means it is not yet possible to determine exactly how its provisions will operate alongside existing defence arrangements between the United States and Denmark.
The agreement will also have to pass the required parliamentary procedures before coming into force.