US President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he said gives the United States permanent control over security and other security-related needs on the Arctic territory.
Trump announced the agreement in a statement on Friday, saying the arrangement would give the US the ability to take whatever measures it considers necessary to protect Greenland and the United States.
He said the agreement also bars US adversaries from establishing military bases, maintaining a military presence or making sensitive investments in Greenland without the express written approval of the United States.
Trump said the US would immediately begin plans to establish a large military presence in Greenland, adding that Washington would work with Greenlanders on the development and construction.
He described the agreement as an infinite life agreement, saying there was no end to it.
“There will be NO COST to the United States!” Trump said.
According to the US president, the agreement resolves what he described as longstanding American concerns over the strategic importance of Greenland.
“For over 100 years, Presidents have known the strategic importance of Greenland, but NONE of them were able to do anything about it,” he said.
Trump said the US would work with Denmark and Greenland to develop the territory while maintaining what he described as a strong protective role.
“This solution is a great one for the United States of America, Denmark, Greenland, and all of our Allies,” he said.
The announcement comes after years of Trump stressing the strategic importance of Greenland to US national security.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Danish and Greenlandic officials have said the proposed security arrangement recognises Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
The agreement is expected to undergo formal approval before it takes effect.