Denmark, Greenland set out sovereignty terms for planned US security deal
The unpublished agreement is expected to be signed at the United Nations General Assembly next week, with provisions aimed at excluding Russian and Chinese military activity and sensitive investment from Greenland.
Denmark and Greenland say a planned security agreement with the United States will strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic without compromising Greenland’s sovereignty.
The agreement is expected to be signed at the United Nations General Assembly next week. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said it would respect the Danish Kingdom’s “red lines”, while Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said it recognised Greenland’s interests.
The reported arrangement would prevent Russian and Chinese military bases, troop deployments and sensitive investments in Greenland. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that Washington needs control or ownership of the autonomous Danish territory for strategic reasons.
However, key details remain unpublished, including the scale of any US military presence and whether Washington would receive formal powers over foreign policy or resources. The agreement’s legal status and approval process also remain unclear, and it has not yet taken effect.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the deal as beneficial to NATO and European security. In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, residents expressed mixed views, including support for stronger protection and concern about the increased attention from the United States.
Al Jazeera Global News reported that the agreement forms part of wider competition for influence in the warming Arctic, where Denmark and Greenland are seeking security assurances while maintaining control over sovereignty and local interests.
