Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump on Friday announced an agreement with Denmark to expand the American military presence in Greenland, claiming the deal would give Washington permanent control over the Arctic territory’s security while keeping the island under Danish sovereignty.
The announcement follows months of tension between Washington and Copenhagen, after Trump repeatedly pushed for the United States to acquire Greenland and refused to rule out using military force to take control of the strategically located territory.
In a social media post, Trump said the emerging agreement would give the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland,” which he claimed would address Washington’s concerns.
He added that his administration would “immediately” begin working on plans to expand the US military presence on the mineral-rich island.
BREAKING: President Donald J. Trump announces complete and permanent American security control over Greenland, and excludes any adversary from Greenland and the surrounding region. pic.twitter.com/MVuT4yAfG5
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 18, 2026
Officials from the United States, Denmark and Greenland had been engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations for months to address American security concerns while respecting Greenland’s political status.
The agreement marks a potential shift in a dispute that has strained relations between the United States and one of its NATO allies.
Agreement To Be Signed During UN General Assembly
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s office said the agreement would be signed by representatives of the United States, Denmark and Greenland next week during the United Nations General Assembly.
However, the deal will require approval from the Danish and Greenlandic governments before it can take effect.
Frederiksen said the agreement recognizes Greenland’s and Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while upholding the right of both populations to self-determination.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the emerging agreement benefits all three governments and takes Greenland’s interests into account.
The announcement allows Trump to present the agreement as a foreign policy achievement ahead of the US midterm elections, amid growing scrutiny of his administration’s military engagements overseas.
Trump’s Greenland Push Triggered Diplomatic Tensions
Trump renewed his calls for the United States to acquire Greenland after returning to the White House last year, arguing that control of the territory was essential to American national security.
His comments, including repeated refusals to rule out military action, drew strong opposition from Denmark and Greenland, whose officials insisted that the island was not for sale.
The push also unsettled European allies and prompted criticism from Russia and other international actors.
Trump has repeatedly cited the potential threat posed by Russia and China to justify greater American control over Greenland. However, he has also made unsubstantiated claims about Russian and Chinese military activity near the island.
According to a US State Department official, the agreement would prohibit non-NATO military bases in Greenland, restrict investments by countries considered adversaries and prevent Russia and China from establishing military bases on the territory.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the agreement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the deal as a “historic” development and a major victory for Washington.
“Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area,” Rubio said.
He added that the agreement would permanently address American national security concerns regarding Greenland.
Greenland’s Strategic Importance To US Defense
The United States has maintained a military presence in Greenland for decades, although its footprint has declined since the Cold War.
Washington continues to operate Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a facility established following the 1951 Defense of Greenland Treaty between the United States and Denmark.
The base supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the United States and NATO.
Located off the northeastern coast of Canada, Greenland is the world’s largest island and has more than two-thirds of its territory within the Arctic Circle. Its geographical position has made it a critical component of North American defense since World War II.
The United States occupied Greenland during the war to prevent Nazi Germany from gaining a foothold on the island and to safeguard key North Atlantic shipping routes.
Despite Trump’s repeated demands for control of Greenland, Danish officials have previously indicated that Copenhagen is willing to work with Washington to expand the U.S. military presence and strengthen American commercial interests on the island.
However, the president’s threats to seize Greenland by force have strained relations within NATO, according to Imran Bayoumi, an associate director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.
“Americans really underestimate how damaging it was for the image of the United States in Europe,” Bayoumi said.
He added that Greenlanders, Danes and other Europeans had viewed Trump’s approach as an attack on their sovereignty, warning that rebuilding trust would require significant effort.
