COPENHAGEN, Denmark | Denmark and Greenland say a new security agreement with the United States will not compromise Greenland’s sovereignty, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the deal would give Washington permanent control over the Arctic territory’s security.
The agreement, reached by the United States, Denmark and Greenland after months of negotiations, is expected to expand the U.S. military presence on the island and prevent countries outside NATO from establishing military bases or making certain sensitive investments there. However, the full text has not been made public, leaving important questions about the extent of U.S. military access and authority unresolved.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he hoped the agreement would replace months of uncertainty with a binding arrangement that strengthens security in the Arctic and North Atlantic while respecting Denmark’s stated limits on sovereignty. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Danish Kingdom and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.
Trump described the agreement differently, saying the United States would have permanent control over security and other needs in Greenland. Reuters reported that the agreement would provide permanent U.S. access, basing and overflight rights, although several details remain unclear, including whether new American bases would be built and whether Washington would receive any formal authority over Greenland’s foreign policy or natural resources.
The agreement is expected to be signed by the three governments during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. Parliamentary action in Denmark and Greenland is still required before the agreement can take effect, according to the Associated Press.
The dispute has its roots in Trump’s repeated calls for the United States to acquire Greenland. Denmark and Greenland have consistently rejected the idea that the territory is for sale, while Trump has argued that Greenland is strategically important to U.S. national security because of its Arctic location and proximity to North America and Europe. His earlier refusal to rule out the use of force to take the island created a diplomatic crisis with Denmark, a fellow NATO member.
Greenland has been self-governing within the Kingdom of Denmark since the introduction of Home Rule in 1979, with expanded self-rule taking effect in 2009. Greenland controls many domestic matters, including natural resources and taxation, while Denmark retains responsibility for foreign affairs, defense and security. The 2009 Self-Rule Act also formally recognizes Greenlanders as a people with the right to self-determination.
The United States has maintained a military presence in Greenland for decades. The 1951 Defense of Greenland Treaty established the framework for U.S. military facilities, and the country continues to operate Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland. The base supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance and has strategic importance for U.S. and NATO operations in the Arctic.
NATO welcomed the new agreement, saying it could strengthen security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic. For now, however, the balance between expanded U.S. military access and Greenland’s stated sovereignty will depend on the final text and the approval process in Copenhagen and Nuuk.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
