Trump Announces Deal With Denmark on Greenland Military Presence
Trump says he has reached a deal with Denmark to expand the US military footprint in Greenland, after months of threatening to take the island.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he has reached an agreement with Denmark to expand the American military footprint in Greenland, following months in which he repeatedly threatened to seize the Danish territory.
In a social media post, Trump said the arrangement gives Washington permanent authority over security matters and other requirements on the island, describing it as a full response to American concerns. He added that his administration would begin work "immediately" on building up a larger military presence there.
The Danish embassy in Washington did not offer an immediate response to the announcement.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has pressed Denmark to sell Greenland, arguing that the mineral-rich island is vital to US security. He declined to rule out using military force to obtain it, even though Denmark is a fellow member of NATO.
Both Denmark and Greenland have consistently rejected any sale, and have criticised reports that the United States was conducting intelligence-gathering on the island. The American push has also drawn opposition from Russia and from much of Europe.
In his post on Friday, Trump indicated that an understanding may now be in place that could ease what Denmark had treated as an existential threat. He said he looked forward to cooperating with the people of Denmark and Greenland on a strong future for the strategically significant territory, and promised the United States would be "very protective" of it.