Greenland approves agreement with US and Denmark on Arctic security

A total of 16 parliamentarians from all Greenlandic political groups voted in favour of the agreement. No one voted against it. The agreement was signed on 22 September in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Head of the Greenlandic Government Jens-Frederik Nielsen. It is intended to defuse tensions caused by earlier threats from Washington regarding taking control over the island.

The document expands the US military presence in Greenland – it envisages the establishment of new bases (including in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig) and elements of the Golden Dome missile defence shield. At the same time, it confirms Danish sovereignty over the island and the Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. It also blocks investments from non-NATO states in strategic sectors of the economy in this territory and remains in force even in the event of a potential declaration of independence by Greenland.

The agreement must still be approved by the Danish Parliament, where the vote is scheduled for 19 November, and the relevant US authorities. It will enter into force after the completion of parliamentary processes in the Kingdom of Denmark in cooperation with Greenland. It does not require approval by the US Senate. The agreement serves as a supplement to the 1951 defence agreement and is intended to strengthen common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic within the framework of NATO, while simultaneously limiting the possibility of influence from non-alliance states appearing there.