The U.S. and Denmark have reached a security agreement on Greenland that grants Washington permanent control over the island’s defense, ending a diplomatic standoff that strained transatlantic relations. The deal is expected to be signed next week during the UN General Assembly, according to the report.
The agreement marks a shift from President Donald Trump’s earlier attempts to acquire or exert direct control over the semi-autonomous Danish territory. His repeated demands, including public threats and trade pressure, sparked tensions between the U.S. and Europe, becoming one of the most serious challenges to NATO since World War II.
Trump announced the deal on social media, claiming it addresses “all of the numerous concerns of the United States” and will cost “nothing”. He stated that the U.S. will “always have the full ability to do what is necessary in Greenland to guarantee and protect the security of both Greenland and the United States.”
However, the agreement’s specifics remain unclear. The U.S. already maintains significant latitude over military operations on the island, including the ability to adjust troop levels, a flexibility that has gradually expanded over decades.
The only potential change, according to former Pentagon advisor Imran Baumi, is that the U.S. may now establish military bases without consulting Greenland or Denmark. Whether this shift justifies the two years of strained relations remains uncertain.
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One concrete change is a ban on non-NATO countries building military bases in Greenland, along with restrictions on investments deemed a security risk. The U.S. could also expand its existing bases if needed. For Denmark and Greenland, the deal resolves Trump’s threats without surrendering sovereignty, a win for both sides.
The agreement follows years of tension, including Trump’s claims that Russia and China sought a foothold in Greenland and that only the U.S. could counter them. Danish and Greenlandic leaders rejected any transfer of control.
Trump’s pressure peaked at the Davos World Economic Forum, where he criticized European allies before backing down after discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rютe.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomed the deal, calling it a “great agreement” that strengthens security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, benefiting both NATO and Europe. The agreement also aligns with Trump’s earlier statements about expanding U.S. military presence in Greenland, though the exact locations remain unspecified.
Greenland’s own leader, Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede, has repeatedly ruled out ceding sovereignty. Public opposition in Denmark ran so deep that some citizens called for boycotting U.S. goods in response to Trump’s demands. The new deal may finally ease those concerns while securing U.S. strategic interests in the region.
