# Greenland emerges as real winner from Trump standoff

> A U.S.-Denmark security deal ends months of transatlantic tension, but Greenland's biggest gain is a seat at the table for its own future.
- Title: Greenland emerges as real winner from Trump standoff · Fortune
- Summary: A U.S.-Denmark security deal ends months of transatlantic tension, but Greenland's biggest gain is a seat at the table for its own future. Trump's push to…
- Keywords: greenland, denmark, donald trump, nato, security deal, self-determination, transatlantic relations, jens-fredrik nielsen, emerges, real, winner, Trump
- Source: Fortune — https://fortune.com/2026/09/24/trumps-greenland-nato-security-deal
- Author: The Associated Press
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: greenland, denmark, donald trump, nato, security deal, self-determination, transatlantic relations, jens-fredrik nielsen
## Trump's Greenland push nearly broke NATO
U.S. President Donald Trump's territorial ambitions over Greenland almost fractured the NATO military alliance and damaged trust with America's oldest European partners before a new security deal was signed.
## Deal signed on sidelines of UN General Assembly
The new defense agreement was signed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Trump hailed his fantastic relationship with Denmark and Greenland after the signing.

> fantastic
## U.S. already had military access
The United States already had extensive military access under an existing nineteen fifty-one deal. All the gains in the new agreement could ostensibly have been achieved by asking nicely a year ago.
## Greenland signs first binding agreement
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Greenland itself at the table signing this agreement marks a notable change. It is the first time Greenland has ventured into a binding agreement as a country.

> A notable change is Greenland itself at the table today, signing this agreement
## Island of fifty-six thousand seeks autonomy
The world's largest island, home to about fifty-six thousand mostly Inuit people, became a self-governing country within the Kingdom of Denmark in two thousand nine, but Denmark retained control of defense and foreign affairs.
## Denmark's colonial legacy haunts relations
Denmark's ties with Greenland are complicated by centuries of policies that dehumanized Greenlanders, including forced contraception, removal of Inuit children for reeducation, and parental-competency tests that separated children from parents.
## Thousands of women received forced IUDs
Danish authorities estimate that as many as four thousand five hundred women and girls received intrauterine devices between the nineteen sixties and mid-nineteen seventies, often as teenagers without informed consent. Denmark issued its first official apology in summer two thousand twenty-five.
## Trump crisis strengthened Greenland unity
Anger with Trump's tactics helped shore up support for Greenland's sovereignty and took the edge off calls by some for quick moves to independence. At the height of the crisis in January, Nielsen said Greenland would choose Denmark and NATO.

> if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO.
## Trust damaged, future uncertain
After Tuesday's signing, relief was palpable, but the Greenland crisis has scarred the transatlantic bond. Leaders in Copenhagen, Nuuk and other European capitals are now assessing the reliability of the United States and whether a signed agreement can repair broken trust.
## Key takeaway

Trump's push to acquire Greenland nearly fractured NATO, but a new security deal signed Tuesday lets the island of fifty-six thousand people sign its first binding international agreement as a country.