Trump Announces U.S.-Denmark-Greenland Security Deal, Says It Gives U.S. “Permanent Control” Over Security

President Donald Trump announced Friday, Sept. 18, that the United States has entered into a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland. Denmark and Greenland describe it as an agreement the three governments expect to sign at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, after which it must go through national parliamentary procedures before taking effect. The text of the agreement has not been made public, and CBS News reported that Denmark and Greenland did not explicitly confirm the specifics in Trump’s statements.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns.” Trump called it an “Infinite Life agreement” that comes at “NO COST” to the United States. The phrase “permanent control” is Trump’s description of the agreement.

Trump also said the United States would “immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the agreement addresses U.S. national security concerns permanently and completely, according to NBC News.

NBC News and CBS News, citing a State Department official whose name was not given, reported the following details: the United States would have permanent access, basing and overflight rights, and could increase the number of bases as required; non-NATO military bases or troop presence would be barred; the agreement would include screening mechanisms intended to block Russian and Chinese investment; and it would remain in effect “forever,” including if Greenland becomes independent.

These details come from the official’s description, not from a published agreement text. Denmark and Greenland have not publicly confirmed them in the statements reviewed for this article, and CBS News reported that details of the deal are sparse.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. In a Sept. 18 statement, the Danish Prime Minister’s Office quoted Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen as calling it “an agreement which strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic Area and therefore is great for NATO and Europe as well,” and “an agreement which at the same time recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.”

The statement also quoted Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chair of Greenland’s government, Naalakkersuisut, as saying the agreement will ensure and strengthen the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western alliance. Nielsen also said the agreement recognizes Greenland’s interests and its place in international cooperation, according to NBC News and ABC News Australia.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Denmark, Greenland and the United States plan to sign the agreement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York the week after the Sept. 18 announcement. CBS News reported the signing is expected Tuesday, Sept. 22. As of reporting reviewed on Sept. 19, the agreement had not been signed.

According to the statement, the agreement will have to go through the required national parliamentary procedures before it takes effect. Al Jazeera reported that the joint Danish-Greenlandic statement described this as parliamentary approval in Nuuk and Copenhagen. The agreement is not yet in force.

Trump has said Greenland is important to U.S. national security. On Jan. 6, 2026, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal,” according to CBS News. On Jan. 21, 2026, in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said: “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” and said he was seeking “immediate negotiations” over Greenland, according to ABC News.

A poll conducted Jan. 22–26, 2025, by Verian for the newspapers Berlingske and Sermitsiaq asked 497 citizens aged 18 and older in Greenland: “Do you want Greenland to leave Denmark and become part of the United States?” Eighty-five percent said no, 6% said yes and 9% said they did not know. Verian reported margins of uncertainty of up to 4.4 percentage points.