The United States, Denmark, and Greenland are set to sign a security deal for Greenland on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump last Friday, will give the US "permanent control" over Greenland's security, barring Russia and China from setting up bases in the Arctic territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Trump, and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen will sign the agreement at 1430 GMT in the UN building.
The terms of the deal remain uncertain, but Denmark maintains its sovereignty over Greenland remains intact. Frederiksen described the deal as "an agreement which at the same time recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination." The deal is seen as a strategic move to counter Russia and China's growing presence in the Arctic.
Trump has repeatedly warned about Russia and China trying to establish a foothold in Greenland, and the State Department has made it clear that they will not be allowed to do so. According to a State Department official, the agreement guarantees that China and Russia cannot have a base in Greenland, send troops to the territory, or make sensitive investments without US approval.
The deal is also seen as a boost to NATO's presence in the Arctic. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Trump reached a purported deal over the future of Greenland in January, but the terms of that agreement remained vague. Frederiksen had expressed optimism that ongoing discussions with the US and Greenland could resolve the dispute.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the deal with the US "strengthens" the territory's security. The agreement comes after a 1951 defence pact, updated in 2004, which allows the US to ramp up troop deployments and military installations on the island provided it informs Denmark and Greenland in advance.
The US wants to open three new military bases in southern Greenland, in addition to the Pituffik base it already has in the north of the territory. At the height of the crisis, Trump would not rule out using force to seize the territory, sowing anxiety within the EU and NATO. Since then, tensions have cooled somewhat, and NATO launched a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic.
The security deal is seen as a significant development in the region, with implications for global security and geopolitics. The agreement will have far-reaching consequences for the future of the Arctic and the relationships between the US, Denmark, Greenland, Russia, and China.
Key points
- The US, Denmark, and Greenland will sign a security deal giving the US "permanent control" over Greenland's security.
- The deal bars Russia and China from setting up bases in Greenland.
- The agreement strengthens NATO's presence in the Arctic and has significant implications for global security and geopolitics.
