Following his threats to take control of Greenland, US President Donald Trump has announced that a security agreement regarding the Arctic region has been reached with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland.

He made the announcement in a post on the social media platform Truth Social on Friday (September 18), according to a report by The Guardian.

However, the full details of what Trump described as a very important, historic, and special agreement were not immediately clear.

Leaders of Denmark and Greenland stated that the agreement is scheduled to be signed between the three parties next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

Trump claimed that the agreement will grant the United States permanent control over Greenland's security and other needs. At the same time, he mentioned that the process of rapidly establishing a major US military presence in suitable areas of Greenland will begin.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and Denmark is a US NATO ally. The island has hosted a US military presence since the Cold War era, and American military installations currently exist there at the Pituffik Space Base.

Following Trump's announcement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Head of Government Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued separate statements.

While Frederiksen referred to the agreement as a fantastic deal for all three parties, she clarified that it will respect the sovereignty and right to self-determination of the Danish realm and the people of Greenland.

Nielsen stated that the agreement will ensure and strengthen the security of Greenland, Denmark, the United States, and the Western alliance.

Their remarks indicate that the agreement is much more limited than Trump's previous demands to bring Greenland under US control. Instead, it may serve to further clarify or strengthen existing US security and military rights on the island under the umbrella of NATO.

Both sides' statements noted that implementing the agreement will require completing parliamentary procedures in Denmark and Greenland.

During his second term, Trump has repeatedly spoken about bringing Greenland under US control, describing its control as essential for economic and national security.

In 2019, during his first term, Trump asked his aides to explore the feasibility of buying Greenland, comparing it at the time to a major real estate deal. However, Denmark has consistently maintained that Greenland is not for sale, and Trump's threats raised concerns among Western allies last year.

Earlier this year, during the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump reiterated his demand to place Greenland under US control. When European countries opposed his stance, he even threatened to withdraw US troops from Europe.

Greenland occupies a strategic position between the United States and Russia. As Arctic ice melts rapidly, the island's military and geopolitical importance continues to grow.

Rich in mineral resources, Greenland is home to about 56,000 people. The Trump administration's aggressive stance regarding control of the island has also fueled anti-American sentiment there.

Various polls have shown that a large portion of Greenland's residents oppose any initiative to make Greenland part of the United States.

Meanwhile, Katie Miller, a former close White House official of the Trump administration, released a map on Friday featuring an American flag placed over Greenland. Along with the image, she wrote, "It's happening."

However, the exact benefits or powers the US will gain under the new security agreement cannot be confirmed until the pact is signed and its details are published.
Source: The Guardian