US, Denmark and Greenland sign Arctic security agreement
On September 22 in New York, Donald Trump, Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed an agreement expanding US military access and facilities in Greenland. The pact preserves Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination while providing for stronger NATO activity in the Arctic.
Key points
- The agreement expands the US military presence without transferring Greenlandic territory to the United States.
Evidence · 2 source statements
Critically, no territory is ceded to the US, and it recognises both Denmark's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" and Greenland's right to self-determination.
- The pact links Greenland’s security to wider Arctic and North Atlantic security, including through increased NATO engagement.
Evidence · 2 source statements
"The Parties support a stronger NATO engagement in the Arctic, including as regards planning, presence, exercises, and joint intelligence gathering,"
- The agreement has no stated end date and sets terms for a possible future independent Greenland.
Evidence · 1 source statement
The accord "does not have an end date," and if Greenland chooses to become independent, it will agree to remain in NATO and take on Denmark's rights and obligations under the deal.
Who's involved
Donald Trump
He signed the agreement for the United States and has sought a larger US role in Greenland.
Trump presented the deal as beneficial and said the United States would build two major bases in Greenland.
What they said · 2 source statements
"This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody,"
building two very major military bases.
Mette Frederiksen
She signed for Denmark, which retains sovereignty over Greenland.
Frederiksen called the agreement a milestone and said it recognizes Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination while benefiting NATO and Europe.
What they said · 2 source statements
Jens-Frederik Nielsen
He signed for Greenland, whose security and self-government are directly affected by the agreement.
Nielsen described the pact as a historic win-win-win and said Greenland matters to North American and transatlantic security.
What they said · 2 source statements
Naaja Nathanielsen
She described the concerns among Greenlanders and Greenland’s stake in the agreement.
Nathanielsen said people in Greenland had feared losing their country and livelihoods, and described the pact as a step toward greater self-autonomy and influence.
What they said · 2 source statements
"It's been really difficult in Greenland and people have been generally afraid and worried about everything, from losing our country, to our livelihoods and so on."
"For us, that is a huge step forward in our quest for more self autonomy and a bigger seat at the table,"
Danish and Greenlandic governments
Both governments are parties to the agreement and its provisions for Greenland’s status.
They described the agreement as a success because it respects Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination.
What they said · 1 source statement
NATO
The agreement provides for stronger NATO engagement in the Arctic.
A NATO spokesperson welcomed the deal and said it should advance regional security, stability and cooperation.
What they said · 1 source statement
A Nato spokesperson said shortly afterwards that the military alliance welcomed the deal, which would "help advance security, stability and cooperation in this vital region".
Jeanne Shaheen
As a US senator on the Foreign Relations Committee, she commented on the US relationship with Denmark and Greenland.
Shaheen criticized Trump’s threats and said the agreement essentially returned the defense relationship to its previous state.
What they said · 1 source statement
After months of threatening our NATO Ally Denmark and disregarding the will of the Greenlandic people, President Trump has reached a 'deal' that essentially returns the…
Where accounts differ
Whether the agreement gives the United States control over Greenland’s security
- Trump described the deal as giving Washington control of Greenland’s security.
Evidence · 1 source statement
Trump said that the US and Denmark had reached an agreement on Washington taking control of Greenland’s security.
- The agreement’s reported terms reaffirm Danish sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination; one report said it did not give Washington the total control Trump had claimed.
Evidence · 2 source statements
Critically, no territory is ceded to the US, and it recognises both Denmark's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" and Greenland's right to self-determination.
Trump’s description of the deal’s effect differs from reports describing the agreement’s terms and Greenland’s political status.
What was reported
- Trump, Frederiksen and Nielsen signed the agreement on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 22.
Reported independently by 2: Der Spiegel, TASS
Evidence · 2 source statements
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
- The agreement provides for new US defense areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig and allows modernization and expansion of US activity at Pituffik Space Base.
Reported independently by 3: BBC News, El País, TASS
Evidence · 3 source statements
The United States shall be allowed to modernize and expand its activities in Pituffik Space Base.
The new pact says the US "shall be allowed to establish an additional Defence Area at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig" - referring to locations in Greenland's south and east.
- The pact grants US forces broad movement and access in Greenland, including aircraft access and undersea access for US public vessels in territorial waters, subject to agreed restrictions.
Reported independently by 2: Deutsche Welle, TASS
Evidence · 4 source statements
the right of free access to and movement between the Defense Areas through Greenland, including the Territorial Waters, by land, air and sea.
United States aircraft may fly over and land in any territory in Greenland, including the Territorial Waters
United States public vessels may have undersea access to and movement within the Territorial Waters, without restriction except as mutually agreed upon by the Parties.
The agreement grants US military forces broad freedom of movement in Greenland and its territorial waters and restricts non-NATO countries from establishing military facilities…
- The agreement supports stronger NATO planning, presence, exercises and joint intelligence gathering in the Arctic, and bars non-NATO states from maintaining a military presence or installations in Greenland unless the parties agree otherwise.
Reported independently by 2: Associated Press, TASS
Evidence · 2 source statements
"The Parties support a stronger NATO engagement in the Arctic, including as regards planning, presence, exercises, and joint intelligence gathering,"
No non-NATO country will be allowed to set up "its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland," or to have a "persistent" military presence unless the signatories…
- The agreement has no end date; if Greenland becomes independent, it would remain in NATO and take on Denmark’s rights and obligations under the pact.
One source: Associated Press
Evidence · 1 source statement
The accord "does not have an end date," and if Greenland chooses to become independent, it will agree to remain in NATO and take on Denmark's rights and obligations under the deal.
- The agreement’s base details still require mutual agreement, and the pact must complete parliamentary procedures before entering into force.
Reported independently by 2: BBC News, CGTN
Evidence · 2 source statements
The "modalities and technical details" of the bases are yet to be confirmed, and according to the deal, must be mutually agreed by all parties,
The new agreement enters into force once the Kingdom of Denmark, together with Greenland, has completed the necessary parliamentary procedures and delivered a diplomatic note…
Still unclear
- The technical details and operating arrangements for the new defense areas have not been confirmed.
- The agreement’s parliamentary procedures have not been completed.
Not heard from
- The Danish and Greenlandic parliaments — Their approval is required for the agreement to enter into force, but no statement from either legislature appears.
- Greenlandic residents beyond the officials quoted — The agreement affects Greenlanders’ security and political future, but the reports include only limited direct views from residents.