President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States has entered into a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he said grants Washington permanent control over security and other needs in the Arctic territory. The full text of the agreement has not been released.
According to a Truth Social post Trump said: "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, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns. There will be NO COST to the United States!" [1]
A State Department official told NBC News the agreement will remain in effect forever, including if Greenland becomes independent from Denmark. Officials said the deal is expected to be signed by Denmark, Greenland, and the United States next week in connection with the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. [1]
The announcement follows more than a year of escalating public pressure from the Trump administration, which has described Greenland as an "absolute necessity" for U.S. national security. The White House has not released supporting documentation, and no independent verification of the agreement's terms beyond statements from officials has been provided.
Background: U.S. Presence and Prior Threats
The U.S. military has maintained a presence in Greenland since 1951, when missile early-warning systems were installed during the Cold War. U.S. military access stems from a 1951 NATO-era defense agreement with Denmark, permitting bases such as Thule, according to reporting on the strategic history of the territory. [2] Greenland is a semiautonomous region of NATO member Denmark and covers over 2 million square kilometers with about 56,000 inhabitants. [1]
After returning to office, Trump repeatedly threatened to take control of Greenland, saying he would purchase it or seize it by force. In January 2026, he told reporters the United States would take Greenland "whether they like it or not," citing strategic competition with Russia and China. [3] In a separate exchange, Trump said: "We're going to take Greenland, either the EASY way or the HARD way." [4] On January 6, 2026, White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller asserted the U.S. had a right to take Greenland and argued no nation would fight the United States militarily over the territory. [5]
Washington has sought to expand its role in Greenland to control Arctic transit routes, secure access to rare-earth minerals, and counter the influence of Russia and China. Trump "revived the idea of annexing Greenland, emphasizing its strategic importance for national and international security, particularly due to increasing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic." [6] Denmark's Defense Intelligence Service has warned in stark terms of Russian and Chinese military ambitions toward and expansion around the Arctic region, even as Danish political leaders downplayed the threat. [7]
Terms of the Agreement
A State Department official said the agreement guarantees permanent access, basing, and overflight rights and allows the Pentagon to expand its footprint in Greenland. [1] Trump said the United States will immediately begin developing a large military presence in what he described as the appropriate part of Greenland. [1] According to earlier reporting on U.S. requests, U.S. officials have sought to open three new bases in the south of the territory. [8] A U.S. special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, previously said it was time for the United States to reestablish its military and strategic footprint on the Arctic island. [9]
Trump has said the arrangement bans any non-NATO base or troop presence and blocks Russia, China, and other states from investments that could threaten U.S. interests. [1] A White House social media post and subsequent statements by officials did not include the text of those provisions. In January 2026, the White House was reportedly considering offering Greenlanders up to $100,000 each to persuade residents to leave Denmark and join the United States. [10] The Trump administration also threatened tariffs on countries that refused to support its push to annex Greenland. [11]
No independent confirmation of the agreement's full terms beyond statements by officials has been provided. Officials have not released the text, and no congressional briefing or public disclosure of the legal language has been announced. The scope of "permanent control over security, and all other needs" has not been further specified in publicly available statements. [1]
Reactions From Denmark and Greenland
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement recognizes Danish sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as Greenlanders' right to self-determination. [1] Her statement followed earlier public comments in which she said, "We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory. Of course, we will defend the kingdom of Denmark," and "We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people's right for self-determination." [12]
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chairman of the Greenland government, said the deal is to the benefit of all and recognizes Greenland's interests and place in international cooperation. [1] Nielsen previously rejected U.S. overtures to bring the territory under American control, declaring Greenland's allegiance to Denmark, NATO, and the EU. [13] In January 2026, the government of Greenland urged residents to stockpile food and prepare for potential disruptions, citing the escalating push by the United States. [14]
Danish officials have said any U.S. move against Greenland would violate international law and threaten NATO. [15] In August 2025, Denmark summoned U.S. diplomats after reports of a covert U.S. influence campaign in Greenland, calling interference "unacceptable" and reaffirming Greenland's autonomy under Danish sovereignty. [16] No independent confirmation of the agreement's full terms beyond statements by officials has been provided. [1]
Strategic and Economic Context
Greenland contains vast untapped rare-earth mineral resources used for batteries, electric vehicles, and military items. Control of those deposits could help the United States reduce China's dominance in the rare-earth market. According to reporting on Greenland's strategic riches, the island "holds 25 of the 34" minerals classified as critical by the European Union. [17] A U.S. Geological Survey survey cited in academic research estimated that there could be between 40 and 178 billion barrels of oil north of the Arctic Circle, though the area was described as environmentally sensitive, technologically risky, and of uncertain geology. [18]
Most of Greenland lies inside the Arctic Circle, where Russia, China, and the United States compete for military and commercial influence. Melting ice is opening naval corridors, and Russia and China recently announced an Arctic commercial shipping service that cuts transit times by roughly 15 days compared with routes through the Suez Canal. [19] Russian and Chinese navies are active in the Arctic, which is also home to critical undersea internet cables. [19] European NATO members are seeking to push Russia out of Arctic cooperation arrangements while integrating the region into their military strategy, according to Irina Strelnikova, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Arctic Studies at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. [19]
The strategic logic has been debated in independent media. In a January 2026 broadcast, The Health Ranger Report described the administration's interest in Greenland as a national-security question and discussed options that included the use of U.S. military forces. [20] A separate analysis argued that the same narrative used in Iraq and Iran – claiming that people must be liberated from oppressive leaders – has been repeated in discussions about Greenland. [21]
Next Steps and Unresolved Questions
The agreement is expected to be signed next week in connection with the UN General Assembly. [1] The text is not public. Implementation details, the meaning of permanent control, and the effect on any future Greenland independence process remain unresolved, according to available statements. Officials have not provided a timeline for releasing the text or for beginning construction of new facilities. [1]
The announcement comes after repeated threats of tariffs against European countries that opposed the U.S. push. The EU had threatened to blow up a trade deal over Trump's plans for Greenland, with Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party, saying the party would not back a deal with the United States given the threats. [22] In January 2026, Trump backed off tariff threats and ruled out taking Greenland by force, after what was described as a framework agreement. [23] At a Davos speech, Trump confirmed he would not use force to take Greenland but continued to push for a purchase. [24]
Analysts have noted that the U.S. military presence in Greenland dates to a 1951 defense agreement and that Denmark has planned to bolster its Arctic defense with a new military airbase at Kangerlussuaq. [25] The final terms of the announced agreement, and whether they will be made public, remain to be seen.
References
- Antiwar.com. "Trump Announces the US Reached ‘Security’ Deal With Greenland And Denmark". September 20, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "Greenland's strategic tensions A tug of war over sovereignty strategy and alliance". April 17, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. "Trump threatens to take Greenland whether Denmark likes it or not". January 13, 2026.
- 100percentfedup.com. "TRUMP: ‘We're going to take Greenland, either the EASY way or the HARD way’". January 10, 2026.
- ZeroHedge.com. "Stephen Miller Asserts US Has Right To Take Greenland, & Wouldn't Even Have To Fight For It". January 6, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Belle Carter. "Trump rekindles Greenland annexation debate seeks NATO involvement for international security". March 16, 2025.
- JustTheNews.com. "Danish intel warned last year about Russian and Chinese military goals toward Greenland and Arctic". January 13, 2026.
- BBC.com. "US in closely-guarded talks to open new bases in Greenland". May 12, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Garrison Vance. "US envoy presses for stronger presence in Greenland". May 23, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Laura Harris. "Trump administration considers 100000 per person offer to buy Greenland". January 13, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "Trump threatens tariffs on nations opposing US bid to annex Greenland". January 20, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "Danish PM Says Greenland “Not for Sale” as Trump Revives Annexation Threat". July 11, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Belle Carter. "Greenland rejects US annexation push as Trump warns of big problem for PM". January 15, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Ramon Tomey. "Greenland's PM urges citizens to PREPARE for possible US invasion". January 23, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Ramon Tomey. "Danish PM pushes back on Greenland annexation threats urges Trump to STOP". January 6, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Ramon Tomey. "Denmark summons US diplomats following covert influence campaign in Greenland". August 29, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. "Greenland's strategic riches The new Cold War frontier as US and China vie for Arctic dominance". April 03, 2025.
- Jessica Shadian. "The Politics of Arctic Sovereignty".
- RT.com. "NATO seeking to push Russia out of Arctic – scholar". September 13, 2026.
- Mike Adams. "Health Ranger Report - TRUMP TO INVADE GREENLAND". BrightVideos.com. January 07, 2026.
- Mike Adams. "Bright Videos News - ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS". BrightVideos.com. January 07, 2026.
- JustTheNews.com. "EU threatens to blow up trade deal over Trump's plans for Greenland". January 17, 2026.
- ZeroHedge.com. "Trump Touts Total And Permanent Access To Greenland, While Nobody Has Any Clue What's In The Deal". January 23, 2026.
- 100percentfedup.com. "MOVING VERY FAST: President Trump Announces He's Negotiated a “Deal Framework” For Greenland and The Entire Arctic Region!". January 21, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. "Denmark to bolster Arctic defense with new military airbase in Greenland". January 20, 2025.
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