Greenland approves Arctic security pact with US and Denmark
Lawmakers in Nuuk voted unanimously to sign a deal that increases American military presence while keeping the island under Danish control.
By Ryan Davidson ·
The Greenlandic parliament approved a new security agreement with the United States and Denmark on Tuesday. The vote was 16 to 0, with seven lawmakers abstaining. The measure strengthens the US military presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions. It resolves months of pressure from President Donald Trump, who had sought greater control over the semiautonomous territory.
The trilateral deal allows for more US bases on the island. It keeps Greenland under Danish control, even if the territory eventually chooses independence. The agreement was signed in September by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. They met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In Ilulissat, 570 kilometers north of the capital Nuuk, residents reacted to the news. Nukaaka Lund-Mathaeussen, a 28-year-old municipality worker, said she hopes the deal means the Trump administration got what it wanted. She said that she expects fewer underhanded threats from the American government going forward.
William Tukula, a 34-year-old chef in Ilulissat, noted that older Greenlanders were concerned. He saw Facebook posts from locals who were a little bit scared about Trump and soldiers. President Trump had previously suggested the US could use military force to secure Greenland. He called US control vital for national security but supported Greenlanders determining their own future.
The State Department called the vote a major victory for American national security. A post on X stated that the administration is securing strategic interests in the Arctic. It added that the move ensures the region remains free of adversarial threats. The White House had no immediate comment on the specific vote.
Prime Minister Nielsen posted on Facebook after the vote. He said Greenlanders stood united despite geopolitical tensions. He wrote that the island decides its own fate and must cooperate with other countries. He emphasized that this cooperation must respect the people, the country, and the rights of the Greenlanders.
Danish lawmakers will debate the agreement later this month. The deal will enter into force once the parliamentary processes of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland are complete. The agreement requires Washington to award contracts for base setup and maintenance to Greenlandic sources to the maximum extent possible.
Local leaders remain mixed on the financial benefits. Lars Erik Gabrielsen, the mayor of Avannaata Municipality, said the deal is good for Denmark and NATO. He argued it is not a good deal for Greenlanders, noting there is no money for local society. Nukaaraq Thomsen, a 43-year-old incineration plant worker, agreed, saying the deal is safe for the land but not for the people.
