Denmark retains sovereignty; deal expands US military presence and blocks Chinese, Russian bases

US President Donald Trump [Reuters]
US President Donald Trump [Reuters]

The United States and Denmark have reached a security agreement over Greenland, but it falls well short of President Donald Trump's original vision of annexing the island, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday (local time).

Under the deal, which Trump announced on Truth Social, the US will station troops in Greenland permanently and can expand the number of its bases there as needed.

The agreement also stipulates that US basing rights will remain in place even if Greenland eventually gains independence from Denmark.

Additionally, non-NATO countries — including China and Russia — will be barred from establishing military bases in Greenland or making investments that threaten US security.

The deal, however, represents a fundamental departure from Trump's stated goal of incorporating Greenland into US territory. Denmark's sovereignty over the island remains unchanged, and Greenland's status as a self-governing territory is preserved.

The Wall Street Journal characterized the agreement as closer to a Danish counteroffer — one focused on expanding the US military presence in Greenland and granting American companies preferential access to business opportunities there.

Denmark has consistently maintained that Greenland's sovereignty is not a subject for negotiations.


newday@heraldcorp.com