Greenland agreement with the USA: praise and relief as far as the eye can see

Only benefits! Everything fantastic forever! And it costs us nothing at all! The announcement sounded like a super special offer. It's probably no different for deal maker Donald Trump. After years of tormenting the traditionally good relationship with the Kingdom of Denmark, after years of insecurity among the people of Greenland, the US President celebrated late on Friday evening in favor of an agreement between the three countries that would give the US everything it could ever wish for. And this time he is not alone in his joy.

In Denmark and Greenland, people waited briefly to see whether that could be true, but lo and behold: the Danish Prime Minister and the head of government of the Arctic island, which is part of the Reich Community, confirmed a little later in a joint press release: There is a deal with which all sides are satisfied. At midday on Saturday, NATO agreed - a spokesman told Reuters the agreement would help promote security, stability and cooperation in this important region.

The US correspondent for the Danish broadcaster DR also didn't skimp on superlatives on Saturday: It was one of the biggest news stories he had ever reported on in his journalistic life, said Kim Bildsøe Lassen. According to his information, there were tough negotiations that threatened to fail several times. But there is apparently nothing in the agreement that has now been reached that Denmark and Greenland cannot live with.

Mette Frederiksen said it would strengthen common security in the Arctic and North Atlantic and would therefore also be good for NATO and Europe. And above all: The deal recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.

Greenland's government also emphasized: "The agreement recognizes Greenland's interests and our place in international cooperation," said Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. It is beneficial for everyone.

Initial reactions collected on the streets of Nuuk were still skeptical; the sting of the takeover threats runs deep. “He can’t take Greenland,” a passerby told Danish Radio. But correspondent Bildsøe Lassen was certain: The fact that this diplomatic solution was found was a huge relief for many in Denmark and Greenland.

Details of the agreement are not yet clear. According to Trump, what is at least certain is that the USA will increase its military presence in Greenland with new bases - and that there should be no expiration date, this deal is valid forever. Next week there will be a ceremony in New York in conjunction with the UN General Assembly where the agreement will be signed by all three countries.

It remains to be seen in detail exactly what rights this will grant the USA - Trump mentioned not only "permanent control over security", but also "all other needs" that would be met by the agreement. From now on, no US adversary will be allowed to have a military presence in Greenland or make “sensitive investments” there without the US’s written permission. Which opponent of the USA is not also an opponent of Denmark and Greenland and would not ask for permission remained unclear given Trump's words on his social media channel “Truth Social”. DR correspondent Bilds��e Lassen emphasized, however, that it was a security agreement and did not include the other Greenland issues once raised by the USA, such as health care there.

How the new deal differs from the 1951 defense agreement between the US and Denmark also remains to be seen. From a Greenlandic perspective, the central point that stands out is the recognition of the Greenlanders' right to self-determination. The USA already has the right to have military bases in Greenland, but has reduced its presence there for many years.

Even without knowing the details, political observers in Denmark call the new agreement historic, given the history. It is crucial that Trump stops talking about how he “must have” Greenland. The US President first spoke about wanting to buy the strategically important island in 2019.

Ownership and control are crucial for the USA, Trump also said at the end of 2024. Repeated suggestions that Greenland would be taken over if in doubt had caused a highly tense international situation at the beginning of this year. Denmark and several NATO countries sent soldiers to Greenland to make it clear that they were ready to defend the island.

In the middle of this situation, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and the then Greenlandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt demonstratively traveled to the USA together. They achieved the establishment of a working group from all three countries on the Greenland issue. What was still surrounded by a lot of uncertainty at the time now seems to have ultimately led to an outcome that was viewed as a success by everyone involved.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen posted a picture of the Washington meeting on Instagram on Saturday - it shows him and Motzfeldt together with US Vice President J.D Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Next week can be a good week…” he wrote, “for Greenland as well as for Denmark and the USA.”