US President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland giving Washington expanded and permanent security rights on the Arctic island.
Trump made the announcement in a post on his X account on Friday, describing the agreement as an “Infinite Life” deal with no end date.
“I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland,” Trump wrote.
He said the agreement gives the United States “the complete ability” to take whatever action it considers necessary to secure and defend Greenland and US national security interests.
Under the deal, no US adversary will be allowed to establish a base, maintain a military presence, or make sensitive investments in Greenland without Washington’s written approval.
Trump added that the United States would immediately begin developing a large military presence in Greenland and would work with the island’s people on its development. “There will be NO COST to the United States!” he said.
Danish and Greenlandic officials confirmed that an agreement has been reached and is expected to be signed next week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
They described the deal as strengthening security cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic while explicitly recognizing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark retains responsibility for foreign affairs and defence.
The agreement expands existing US military access and basing rights but does not transfer sovereignty or ownership of Greenland to the United States.
Trump has long argued that Greenland is strategically vital to US national security and previously expressed interest in acquiring the territory.
Danish and Greenlandic leaders have consistently opposed any change in sovereignty, insisting that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people.
The new deal falls short of full US control of the island but addresses Washington’s core security concerns by expanding the American military footprint and blocking potential adversary presence or sensitive investments.
