Trump says deal with Denmark gives US permanent control over Greenland’s security

US President Donald Trump, on Friday, said he has struck a deal with Denmark which gives the US “permanent control” over Greenland’s security.

The deal reportedly gives the US permanent access, basing and overflight rights in Greenland and the ability to establish additional military installations as needed. It also bars Russia and China from setting up bases anywhere in the Arctic territory.

Mr Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, described the deal as “historic,” “special,” and a “dream come true for the US.”

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Mr Trump, earlier in the year, threatened to annex the Arctic island. He also demanded that Denmark cede control of the island, a request that rattled European leaders.

The request came after the US abducted President Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela. Mr Trump cited security concerns to justify the proposed annexation of the island.

Greenland is the world’s largest island and an autonomous territory within Denmark, a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The island is strategically important because of its proximity to emerging maritime routes linking North America and Eurasia. It sits in the Arctic between North America and Europe.

It is separated from Canada, a US neighbour, by the Nares Strait. At the same time, Russia’s Arctic coastline extends along the Barents Sea, which connects to the wider Arctic and North Atlantic waters surrounding Greenland.

The Island also has vast reserves of critical minerals. Although an ice sheet covers most of the Island, climate change is accelerating its melting, raising the potential to access these resources.

Mr Trump has argued Greenland is essential for his plan to build a Golden Dome defence system to protect the US against missile attacks from Russia and China.

He also said Denmark’s allocations to defence infrastructure on the island were not enough to protect it. Shortly after, he softened his stance and announced a framework deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The new deal reportedly gives the US unilateral power to build new military structures on the island without approval from Greenland or Denmark.

Mr Trump said the deal gives the “United States permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland, completely addressing all of our many US concerns. There will be no cost to the United States.”

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Trump announces most crushing economic sanctions on Iran

“The US will forever have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.”

The deal also bans non-NATO countries from building bases in Greenland, and “bans adversaries from making investments in Greenland that could threaten the United States.”

Mr Trump said, “US adversaries can never have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.”