Trump Announces ‘Permanent’ US Security Control Deal Over Greenland

United States President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says will give Washington permanent control over security and other strategic needs in Greenland.

Trump made the announcement in a statement posted on his social media handle on Friday, September 18, saying the agreement would address what he described as longstanding US concerns over the Arctic territory.

According to Trump, the agreement guarantees the United States the ability to take necessary measures to secure and defend Greenland and the US, while preventing American adversaries from establishing military or other sensitive interests on the island without Washington’s approval.

“At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America,” Trump said.

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He added that there would be “NO COST to the United States” under the agreement.

Trump further claimed that adversaries of the US would be barred from establishing military bases, maintaining military personnel or making sensitive investments in Greenland without the express written approval of Washington.

“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 said.

The US president also announced plans to expand the American military presence in Greenland, saying the process would begin immediately in cooperation with Greenland’s people.

“We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many,” Trump said.

He described the agreement as an “Infinite Life” arrangement, saying it would have no expiration date.

“This is an ‘Infinite Life’ Agreement, there is no end!” Trump said.

The announcement comes after months of tensions over Trump’s repeated calls for greater US control of Greenland, which remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The new agreement, however, does not amount to a transfer of sovereignty to the United States. Denmark and Greenland have said their sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination remain intact.

The agreement is expected to be formally signed during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week and remains subject to approval by the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments.

Trump described the development as a major strategic achievement for the United States, Denmark, Greenland and their allies.

“This is a dream come true for the United States of America, one that is very important, historic, and special,” he said.