US President Donald Trump on Friday, 18th September, announced a new agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he said would give the United States permanent control over Greenland‘s security and allow Washington to take steps it considers necessary to protect the island and the US. He termed the pact a “dream come true” for the US and called it “important, historic and special.”
BREAKING NEWS: 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…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2026
“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,” Trump conveyed.
He said the agreement would also prevent US rivals from setting up military bases, maintaining a military presence or making sensitive investments in Greenland without Washington’s written approval. He said the US would begin work on building a larger military presence at suitable locations across the Arctic island.
The president added, “There will be NO COST to the United States! At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.”
Trump described the arrangement as an “Infinite Life” agreement, saying it would have no end. He added, “We are very honoured and proud of what has just taken place, and everything agreed to today will be cherished by the American People. We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many. We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction. This solution is a great one for the United States of America, Denmark, Greenland, and all of our Allies.”
“This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio likewise stated while referring to the accord as “historic” and a “huge win for the United States and the American people.”
However, Denmark and Greenland have made it clear that the agreement does not transfer sovereignty over Greenland to the United States. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal recognises Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination. The agreement is expected to be formally signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week and will require approval through parliamentary procedures in Denmark and Greenland.
The United States already has a military installation at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. The base is used for missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance. The new announcement points to a possible expansion of the American military presence on the island.
The exact text of the agreement has not yet been made public, so the full extent of the new US powers remains unclear. Denmark and Greenland, meanwhile, continue to stress that the island remains under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, expressed her “pleasure that there is a prospect of a good agreement” for all three parties. She released a joint statement with Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland. She asserted that the development “strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area” and acknowledges “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.”
According to Nielsen, it was “gratifying that we are about to enter into an agreement that ensures and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western alliance. The agreement recognises Greenland’s interests and our place in international co-operation. It is for the benefit of us all.”
Once signed, the agreement would still need to go through the required parliamentary procedures to become effective.
Trump’s long-standing push for Greenland
The latest agreement comes after years of tension over Trump’s repeated demands for greater US control over Greenland.
Trump has described Greenland as a major national security asset, pointing to its location in the Arctic and growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region. He has argued that the United States cannot allow either country to gain a stronger military or strategic position there.
At one point, Trump said the US would deal with the issue either “the nice way or the hard way,” while presenting negotiations as the preferred option. He has also repeatedly said that US control of Greenland was an “absolute necessity” for American national security.
Trump’s interest in Greenland is not new. In 2019, during his first presidency, he discussed the possibility of the United States purchasing the island from Denmark. Greenland’s location, its role in Arctic security and its natural resources have all contributed to Washington’s long-running interest in the territory.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has its own government, while Copenhagen remains responsible for areas including foreign and defence policy.
Greenland issue also led to a dispute with Europe
Trump’s push for control of Greenland also created a wider dispute with European countries.
In January 2026, Trump announced that the United States would impose a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. He linked the tariffs to their opposition to US control of Greenland.
Trump said the tariffs would begin on 1st February 2026 and rise to 25% from 1st June if an agreement was not reached for the “Complete and Total purchase” of Greenland by the United States.
The eight European countries had backed Denmark’s territorial rights over Greenland. The tariff threat therefore turned the Greenland dispute into a wider disagreement between Washington and several European allies.
