The announcement suggests that U.S. Preside Trump was pleased with the outcome of the negotiations, and that he may not revive his territorial claims, at least in the near future. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The United States, Denmark and Greenland have entered into an agreement for the U.S. to develop a significant military presence on Greenland, while prohibiting U.S. adversaries from building their own bases on the island, Donald Trump said on Friday on Friday (September 18, 2026). This comes after months of threatening to take island by force from the NATO ally.
In a Truth Social post, the U.S. President wrote that no U.S. enemies would be able to make sensitive investments on the island without the approval of the United States and that the agreement had no expiry date.
“At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America,” Mr. Trump wrote.
The announcement suggests he was pleased with the outcome of the negotiations, and that he may not revive his territorial claims, at least in the near future. He said, without elaborating, that the U.S. would soon be rolling out a large military presence on the island, which already hosts one Space Force base in its remote northwest.
“This is a dream come true for the United States of America,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Deal to be signed next week, still needs parliamentary action: Denmark
The office of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the Greenland deal with the U.S. will be signed by three governments next week during the United Nations General Assembly. However parliamentary action is still needed by the Danish and Greenland governments before it can be enforced.
Mr. Frederiksen said in a statement that “the agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Greenland and Denmark and upholds both people’s right “to self-determination.” The PM’s office said that the agreement would strengthen North Atlantic and Arctic security.
Rubio says deal addresses security concerns
In a separate statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the deal “permanently and completely” addressed Washington’s national security concerns with respect to the island. “Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area,” he wrote.
A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss specific terms, said the deal prohibits non-NATO countries from building a base in Greenland, and will allow only the U.S. and its allies to make unspecified “sensitive investments.”
Much was unclear as of Friday night (September 18, 2026), including whether any new U.S. bases would be constructed as a result of the agreement. Trump’s Truth Social posts about negotiations or agreements often lack context or specifics.
The U.S. already has nearly total overflight and basing rights in Greenland due to a 1951 treaty.
It was also unclear how the agreement would be received in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The island’s residents aspire to independence and have bristled at US attempts to assert hegemony.
The official said the agreement grants the U.S. permanent access, basing and overflight rights, and would continue to apply even if Greenland becomes independent.
Published – September 19, 2026 04:35 am IST
