President Donald Trump mentioned Friday that the U.S. has struck an settlement with Denmark that provides the U.S. “everlasting management over safety, and all different wants, in Greenland, fully addressing ALL of our many U.S. considerations.”
“At my path, we labored with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to ensure that the US will FOREVER have the whole capability to do what is critical in Greenland to be able to safe and defend the safety of Greenland, and the US of America,” Trump mentioned in a social media submit.
The announcement comes after months of escalating rhetoric from the president, who has repeatedly threatened to take over the territory citing nationwide safety functions. Trump’s threats, together with refusing to rule out taking the territory by army drive, sowed tension between the U.S. and its European allies and sparked consternation from Greenlanders.
President Donald Trump solutions questions from reporters within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, September 18, 2026.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photograph
What’s within the settlement?
The deal introduced Friday seems to fall wanting the “Complete and Total Control” by the U.S. that Trump as soon as known as for, however it does give the U.S. the power to develop its army footprint on Greenland.
A State Division official mentioned the settlement “explicitly ensures the US the whole capability to do what it deems is critical in Greenland to be able to safe and defend the American continent, together with everlasting entry, basing, and overflight rights,” indicating it advances the already sweeping rights granted to the U.S. to construct and preserve army bases in Greenland by an current Protection of Greenland settlement signed in 1951.
In his social media submit, Trump mentioned that as a part of this settlement, “no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a army presence in Greenland, or make delicate investments in Greenland, with out our categorical written approval.”
Underneath the settlement, the State Division official mentioned, “solely the U.S. and our allies could make delicate investments in Greenland, eliminating the earlier established order during which adversaries have been investing in Greenland’s delicate sectors with out funding screening.”
Regardless of U.S. concern, neither China nor Russia at present have vital energetic investments or army presences in Greenland, and prior makes an attempt to enter delicate sectors have been blocked.
The official additionally emphasised the permanence of the deal, saying it could stay totally in impact “even when Greenland turns into a totally impartial nation.”
What Denmark and Greenland are saying
Following Trump’s announcement, the federal government of Greenland and the Danish prime minister issued a joint assertion saying that Greenland, Denmark, and the U.S., “anticipate to signal an settlement subsequent week that strengthens safety within the Arctic and the North Atlantic area.”
The assertion didn’t present specifics in regards to the settlement however mentioned it was anticipated to be signed on the U.N. Basic Meeting subsequent week and would then must undergo “obligatory parliamentary procedures to enter into drive.”
In a press release, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, mentioned: “I’m happy that there’s a prospect of a very good settlement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark and the US. An settlement that strengthens our widespread safety within the Arctic and the North Atlantic space and is thus additionally good for NATO and Europe. And an settlement that on the similar time acknowledges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the correct of the Greenlandic folks to self-determination.”
On Saturday, Danish International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned in a submit to Instagram, “Subsequent week ought to be a very good week … For each Greenland, Denmark and the USA.”
“How long-term uncertainty will hopefully get replaced by a binding settlement that strengthens safety within the Arctic and North Atlantic and thus additionally our widespread safety in NATO and Europe — with respect to the Kingdom’s purple strains,” he added. “That is essential at a time when the safety coverage state of affairs within the Arctic has modified.”
On this Jan. 17, 2026, file picture, folks bear Greenlandic flags as they collect in entrance of the U.S. consulate protest in opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump and his introduced intent to amass Greenland, in Nuuk, Greenland.
Sean Gallup/Getty Pictures, FILE
What occurs subsequent?
In his social media submit, Trump mentioned the U.S. will instantly start the “technique of creating a big Navy presence within the acceptable a part of Greenland, of which there are various.”
It isn’t but clear whether or not the president’s announcement will amend or complement the 1951 pact, which extends so long as the North Atlantic Treaty stays in impact however explicitly acknowledges Danish sovereignty over Greenland.
The direct inclusion of Greenland within the settlement seems to be a transfer to make sure that army ensures for the U.S. stay even when Greenland breaks from Denmark.
A high-level working group has been evaluating the 1951 framework since January. A speculative modification to the settlement would make Greenland itself a celebration to it, however it’s not clear whether or not that will be legally possible.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the deal, calling it a “historic deal” and “an enormous win for the US and the American folks.”
“Due to President Trump’s imaginative and prescient and management, this historic settlement completely ensures U.S. safety pursuits within the Arctic at zero value to the U.S. taxpayer,” he mentioned. “Greenland will without end be a part of the strategic protection space of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the encompassing space. This deal completely and fully addresses our nationwide safety considerations in Greenland.”
Greenland has strategic significance for the U.S. Along with its invaluable minerals and large oil and gasoline reserves. It’s residence to the U.S. Pituffik Area Base, the Protection Division’s northernmost base, the place about 150 American troops are stationed and which serves as a primary line of protection in opposition to a missile assault over the Arctic.
Trump has mentioned the Arctic island is important to his “Golden Dome” anti-missile idea, has argued the present U.S. presence there’s inadequate to defend Greenland ought to Russia or China attempt to take it over. He asserts that neither Greenland nor the Europeans are able to defending it — and that solely the united statescan maintain it from Russian or Chinese language encroachment.
