# U.S. and Denmark strike Greenland military deal

> After months of threats, Trump secures expanded military access to the Arctic territory while keeping it under Danish control.
- Title: U.S. and Denmark strike Greenland military deal | Shortify
- Summary: After months of threats, Trump secures expanded military access to the Arctic territory while keeping it under Danish control. The U.S. gained permanent…
- Keywords: trump administration, greenland, denmark, military presence, arctic strategy, nato, u.s. foreign policy, security agreement, russia, china, news, world
- Source: NPR Las Vegas | Nevada Public Radio (KNPR 88.9) — https://knpr.org/npr/2026-09-18/us-and-denmark-reach-deal-to-build-us-military-presence-in-greenland
- Published: 2026-09-19T04:44:46+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: trump administration, greenland, denmark, military presence, arctic strategy, nato, u.s. foreign policy, security agreement, russia, china, news, world
## Trump announces Greenland military deal
President Trump announced Friday he reached an agreement with Denmark to expand U.S. military presence in Greenland after months of threatening to take the island by force.

> gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland
## Deal keeps Greenland under Danish rule
The agreement maintains Greenland's status as a Danish territory while giving the U.S. permanent control over security matters. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal recognizes both nations' sovereignty and self-determination.

> recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greenland and Denmark
## Months of secret negotiations paid off
Officials from the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark negotiated quietly for months to find solutions addressing Trump's security concerns about the mineral-rich Arctic territory with roughly 56,000 residents.
## Trump had threatened military force
After returning to office, Trump demanded Denmark sell Greenland to the U.S. and repeatedly refused to rule out taking it by military force, even though Denmark is a NATO ally.
## Deal blocks China and Russia bases
The agreement bans non-NATO military bases in Greenland and prevents China and Russia from establishing military installations or making strategic investments on the island.
## Greenland's strategic Arctic location
Greenland sits off Canada's northeastern coast with two-thirds of its territory in the Arctic Circle. The U.S. has maintained military presence there since World War II, including the Pituffik Space Base for missile warning and space surveillance.
## European allies concerned about damage
Trump's repeated demands and military threats rattled the NATO alliance and damaged U.S. credibility in Europe. Analysts say repairing relationships with European partners will require significant effort.

> I think Americans really underestimate how damaging it was for the image of the United States in Europe
## Deal requires parliamentary approval
Denmark's Prime Minister said the agreement will be signed by all three governments next week at the United Nations General Assembly, but still needs parliamentary approval from both Denmark and Greenland to take effect.
## Key takeaway

The U.S. gained permanent control over Greenland's security and military development without acquiring the territory, ending a months-long standoff with a NATO ally.