President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States has reached an Arctic security agreement with Denmark and Greenland. Trump described the historic deal as a personal triumph that gives the United States permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland, effectively addressing numerous U.S. concerns.
The pact allows the United States to expand its military presence on the Arctic island. According to the U.S. State Department, the agreement guarantees that U.S. adversaries, including Russia and China, cannot establish bases in the territory.
Denmark and Greenland stated that the agreement preserves their sovereignty and right to self-determination, with Denmark adding that the deal is great for NATO and Europe. The agreement follows a period of tension in which Trump's push to acquire the island rattled European allies and led the European Union to rebuke the president after Greenland maintained it was not for sale.
The defense pact is expected to be signed next week during the UN General Assembly. However, the agreement still requires parliamentary approval from both the Danish and Greenlandic governments before it can be enforced.