Sept. 18, 2026Up to date Sept. 19, 2026, 12:44 a.m. ET
President Donald Trump introduced a cope with Denmark and Greenland to determine a “massive army presence” on the territory, probably ending a monthlong diplomatic dispute with a longtime ally.
The settlement would give the US “everlasting management over safety, and all different wants,” Trump stated on Sept. 18 in a submit on social media, including that American adversaries can be prevented from having a presence within the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the deal in an announcement, saying it “strengthens our widespread safety within the Arctic and the North Atlantic Space and due to this fact is nice for NATO and Europe as properly.”
Already present settlement
Beneath a 1951 settlement with Denmark, the US authorities has broad energy to put in and preserve army tools, amenities and personnel in Greenland.
It’s not clear how the brand new settlement will differ from that present association, which Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, stated in January “offers the US huge entry to Greenland.”
Diplomatic disaster seemingly averted
The three governments are anticipated to signal the settlement in New York subsequent week on the United Nations Basic Meeting.
The brand new accord seems to fulfill Trump’s longtime fascination with the landmass whereas avoiding his said ambition of annexing the territory. Greenland, the biggest island on the earth, is an autonomous territory of Denmark with a inhabitants of roughly 57,000 individuals.
“I’m glad that we’re about to make a terrific settlement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the US,” Frederiksen stated. “An settlement which strengthens our widespread safety within the Arctic and the North Atlantic Space and due to this fact is nice for NATO and Europe as properly.”
She added that the settlement acknowledges Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “and the Greenlandic individuals’s proper to self-determination.”
The U.S. can have everlasting entry to Greenland along with basing and overflight rights, in response to a State Division official.
“We are going to instantly start the method of growing a big Army presence within the applicable a part of Greenland,” Trump stated.
Trump sparked a diplomatic disaster with Denmark earlier this yr when he threatened to accumulate Greenland “the onerous manner,” suggesting the U.S. was ready to make use of army drive to grab territory from a NATO ally.
“I wish to make a deal the straightforward manner, but when we don’t do it the straightforward manner we’re going to do it the onerous manner,” he stated on Jan. 9.
The aggressive rhetoric sparked massive protests in Greenland and Denmark and condemnation from European leaders.
In latest months, Trump had backed away from feedback suggesting that he was prepared to take army motion in opposition to the Arctic island, however his concentrate on the territory continued. In Could, the U.S. opened a bigger consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the settlement would resolve tensions with officers in Denmark and Greenland, who had vehemently rejected Trump’s efforts to accumulate the territory.
“Greenland will ceaselessly be a part of the strategic protection space of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the encircling space,” Rubio stated. “This deal completely and fully addresses our nationwide safety issues in Greenland.”
Francesca Chambers contributed reporting.
