Understanding Trump's Deal With Denmark—and What It Means for Greenland's Sovereignty

U.S.

President Donald Trump, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen sign a trilateral security deal on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept.

22, 2026. —Brendan Smialowski—Getty Images President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a deal on the security of the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland , in a bid to end the standoff over the strategic island.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for the trilateral signing ceremony.

The deal follows Trump’s repeated threats to annex Greenland—a move he insisted was a matter of “ national security ,” on account of the mineral-rich Arctic territory’s positioning between the U.S., Russia, and Europe.

Trump has long argued that Denmark cannot be relied upon to protect the island.

Tensions reached a critical point earlier this year, when he threatened to tariff European allies until Greenland fell under U.S. control, and suggested he may pull the U.S. out of NATO over the tussle.

The signed agreement notably stops short of Trump's call for the U.S. to ​take over Greenland as a U.S. territory.

Instead, in a speech at the U.N. gathering, Trump said the deal gives the U.S.

"permanent control over security and all other needs on that territory" and emphasized that "no U.S. adversary will ever be permitted to establish a military ​presence in Greenland ​any more, or ⁠make sensitive investments there without our express written approval." Upon the announcement of the deal on Friday, Trump had said the U.S. will "immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many" and specified that this is an "infinite life agreement, there is no end." A State Department official previously told TIME the deal ensures Greenland will forever be a part of the strategic defense area of North America.

Danish and Greenlandic officials have expressed hope over the agreement, while emphasizing that the U.S. military arrangement will not compromise the territory’s sovereignty—a fear among Greenlanders following Trump’s pressure campaign.

Some critics have questioned whether the differs all that much from the existing 1951 defense agreement that gave the U.S. military extensive rights in Greenland.

The U.S. already has one base in Greenland, the Pituffik Space Base, which is located in the northwest of the territory and provides missile warning and space surveillance capabilities.

Per the new deal, the U.S.