President Donald Trump announced a deal with Denmark and Greenland to establish a "large military presence" on the territory, potentially ending a monthlong diplomatic dispute with a NATO ally.
The agreement would give the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs,” Trump said on Sept. 18 in a post on social media, adding that American adversaries would be prevented from having a presence in the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the agreement in a statement.
”I am glad that we are about to make a great agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United States," she said. "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."
The agreement appears to satisfy Trump’s longtime fascination with the landmass while avoiding his stated ambition of annexing the territory. The U.S. will have permanent access to Greenland in addition to basing and overflight rights, according to a State Department official.
“We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland,” Trump said.
Trump sparked a diplomatic crisis with Denmark earlier this year when he threatened to acquire Greenland “the hard way.”
“I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way we’re going to do it the hard way,” he said on Jan. 9.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the agreement would resolve tensions with officials in Denmark and Greenland, who had vehemently rejected Trump’s efforts to acquire the territory.
“Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area,” Rubio said. “This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says US has deal to establish military presence in Greenland
