Trump says Greenland deal secures permanent US military rights

What the agreement does

President Donald Trump’s administration says the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland granting permanent access, basing and overflight rights in Greenland. A senior US official told Fox News that the agreement has no expiration date and permits the United States to establish more military installations when it considers them necessary.

Denmark and Greenland would be consulted about additional installations but would not have approval authority, the official said. The agreement does not transfer sovereignty over Greenland to the United States and is designed to remain in force if Greenland later becomes independent.

Limits on other countries

The agreement bars China, Russia and other countries outside NATO from establishing military bases or maintaining forces in Greenland. It also restricts investment by US adversaries in sensitive sectors when that investment could threaten US national security.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the agreement a permanent guarantee for US security interests in the Arctic. Rubio said it would impose no cost on US taxpayers. A senior official described that point more narrowly, saying the United States would not pay for the right to expand its military presence.

Existing US presence

The agreement expands a defense relationship dating to 1951. The United States already operates Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland and has long held military access to the island.

Trump has argued that Greenland’s Arctic location is important to US security as Russia and China increase their regional capabilities. Administration officials also believe a larger US presence there could eventually support Trump’s planned Golden Dome missile-defense system.