Up to date Sept. 22, 2026, 3:09 p.m. ET
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump formalized a brand new safety settlement with Greenland that expands america’ army presence on the island, with out it turning into an American territory, throughout a signing ceremony in New York on the sidelines of a go to to the United Nations.
Trump joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen for a Tuesday morning signing of the settlement that the U.S. has promoted as an answer for Trump’s want to annex the independently-governed territory that is formally a part of Denmark.
“We will have an amazing relationship, a safe relationship. And we stay up for it,” Trump mentioned. “This was lengthy within the making.”
The leaders harassed that the deal advantages the U.S., Europe, and Greenland, whose prime minister mentioned the settlement takes into consideration the individuals of the island. “Greenland issues, for North American safety, and for transatlantic safety, and this settlement displays that we perceive our accountability, and act accordingly,” Nielsen mentioned.
The settlement ought to “put to relaxation any doubt immediately and sooner or later” in regards to the island’s loyalty, he added. “We’re, have been, and can stay a steadfast buddy of america, and part of the western alliance. Your safety is our safety, and our safety is your safety.”
Frederiksen mentioned the U.S. has a buddy in Demark, that has all the time saved its phrase, and an ally that it will probably depend on. “This present day represents a milestone in our longstanding cooperation.”
U.S. pledges ‘massive Army presence’ in Greenland
Trump mentioned final week in a social media put up that the deal “explicitly ensures america the whole skill to do what it deems is critical in Greenland with a view to safe and defend the American continent,” together with everlasting entry, basing, and unrestricted use of the Arctic territory’s airspace.
“We are going to instantly start the method of creating a big Army presence within the applicable a part of Greenland, of which there are various. We are going to work with the individuals of Greenland in its improvement and development,” Trump wrote.
The deal additionally prohibits American adversaries from having a army presence on or making investments in Greenland with out written approval. That features Russia and China, a State Division official mentioned. The deal has no finish date, the official mentioned, and can stay in impact if Greenland turns into an impartial nation.
“This deal completely and utterly addresses our nationwide safety issues in Greenland,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned in a press release when the deal was introduced.
The U.S. plans to re-establish a Chilly Battle-era army base in Narsarsuaq, positioned in southern Greenland, the place the inhabitants has dwindled to a couple dozen individuals since america’ closed its Bluie West One army base within the Fifties, and Mestersvig, a army outpost utilized by the Sirius Canine Sled Patrol, a Danish particular forces unit, Reuters reported.
Denmark heralds ‘larger and higher’ settlement with U.S.
Greenland has a complete inhabitants of roughly 57,000 individuals. Below a 1951 settlement with Denmark, america authorities has broad energy to put in and keep army tools, amenities and personnel on the island, the world’s largest. The brand new settlement seems to broaden that authority and limit non-NATO nations’ skill to station troops on the island.
Trump brought about a diplomatic row with Denmark, a NATO ally, when he mentioned in January that he might take Greenland the “simple means” or “the onerous means,” a number of days after america invaded Venezuela. He later mentioned the U.S. had entered right into a framework deal involving the island, with out explaining what was in it.
Frederiksen mentioned on Sept. 22 that the brand new settlement is “even larger and higher” than the earlier one, and heralded it as a deal that “can final without end” and strengthen the frequent safety of the NATO allaince.
“I feel that everyone is aware of that we reside in troublesome instances, the place we’ve to indicate our energy, if we let ourselves be divided as allies, then we do our foes a favor. We are going to do all the things we will to forestall that from taking place,” the Danish prime minister mentioned.
