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President Donald Trump has said that the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that gives the United States “permanent control” over Greenland’s security and bars any US adversary from having a military presence on the island.
“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, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns. There will be NO COST to the United States!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, going on to call the arrangement “an ‘Infinite Life’ Agreement.”
“Additionally, 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,” Trump said.
He added that the US would “immediately begin” building its own “large military presence” and work with the people in Greenland, a Danish territory, on “its development and construction.”
CNN reported citing a US official that the agreement includes “permanent access, basing, and overflight rights” for the US on the island.
The United States, Greenland and Denmark are expected to sign an agreement on “strengthened security in the Arctic and North Atlantic Area” next week at the UN General Assembly, the Danish prime minister’s office said in a statement.
“I am glad that we are about to make a great agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United States,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, adding that the agreement would be “great for NATO and Europe as well.”
She also said the agreement “recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.”
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said “the agreement recognizes Greenland’s interests and our place in the international cooperation,” adding, “It is to the benefit of us all.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement the agreement “permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland.”
Earlier this year, Trump repeatedly insisted on the importance of the United States obtaining Greenland for national security purposes, but discussion on the matter had largely faded from public view in recent months.
Trump’s repeated claims about seizing Greenland set off a diplomatic crisis within the NATO alliance and a scramble to try to defuse the threat, according to CNN.
That framework, and the agreement described on Friday, bear strong similarities to an existing 1951 pact between the US and Denmark that allowed broad US military presence in Greenland, according to CNN.
CNN reported citing a US official that “under the previous status quo, any country, including adversaries, could be allowed to build a military base in Greenland or send troops to Greenland.”