Denmark and Greenland have assured that a proposed agreement to allow the United States to expand its military presence in Greenland will respect the territory’s sovereignty and the rights of its inhabitants. This statement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of an agreement granting the U.S. “permanent control” over Greenland’s security.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen emphasized that the agreement acknowledges Greenland’s sovereignty and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination. Meanwhile, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen noted that the deal could bolster security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, aligning with Denmark’s conditions concerning Greenland’s territorial integrity.

The proposed agreement allows the U.S. to develop a significant military presence in Greenland while preventing nations considered adversaries of the U.S. from establishing military bases on the island. However, key details about the extent of the U.S. military presence and any potential influence over Greenland’s foreign policy or natural resources remain undisclosed.

The agreement is anticipated to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly next week. Greenland is strategically crucial to the U.S. due to its Arctic location, with the U.S. already maintaining a presence at Pituffik Space Base, which plays a role in missile warning and space operations.

This development comes amid increasing tension between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk over Greenland’s strategic significance, including its mineral resources and emerging Arctic shipping routes. NATO has expressed support for the agreement, suggesting it could enhance security and cooperation in the Arctic region.