US and Denmark reach deal over Greenland's security
Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed the agreement, saying it was "to the benefit of us all" and that it would "ensure and strengthen" the security of the island.
Published on 19/09/2026 - 7:42 GMT+2•Updated 7:46
The United States and Denmark have announced that they have come to an agreement over Greenland, with US President Donald Trump saying the deal would give Washington "permanent control" of the island's security.
"I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social account on Friday.
"From now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval," he added.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to seize the Danish autonomous territory since his return to the White House in January 2025, arguing that it was an essential "national security" concern and that if Washington did not act, then China or Russia would do so.
His rhetoric has sparked pushback from across Europe and prompted fresh funding pledges from Brussels and a renewed focus on Arctic security.
In a statement on Friday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen touted a "great agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United States," while promising that it would recognise "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.”
"An agreement which strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic Area and therefore is great for NATO and Europe as well," she added.
Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also welcomed the agreement with the US, saying it was "to the benefit of us all" and that it would "ensure and strengthen the security of the island.
The deal is expected to be signed at the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had visited Greenland earlier this month as part of EU efforts to counter Trump's Arctic ambitions, announcing a €200 million partnership with the autonomous Danish territory during her visit - which is set to be invested this year and the next.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos this year, von der Leyen had said the EU was working on a "massive European investment surge" in Greenland in a bid to ramp up Arctic security.
The Commission had proposed allocating €530 million to Greenland under its budget for the 2028–2034 period, which it said reflected its "growing geostrategic importance in the Arctic."
The US is reported to have had 17 military facilities and over 10,000 troops on Greenland at the height of the Cold War. It now operates just one base on the island, the Pituffik Space Base - the US Department of Defense's northernmost installation.
Pituffik is used for missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance missions, per the US Space Force.
