Andrea Innocenti In recent months, Greenland has returned to the forefront of international diplomacy thanks to President Donald Trump 's proposal to purchase the island. After a heated debate in Copenhagen and a series of controversial statements, the United States reached an agreement with Denmark and the government of Nuuk . While not transferring sovereignty, it guarantees Washington a permanent role in Arctic security.
The historical background to American access to the Arctic
During World War II, the United States entered into an agreement with Denmark to use Greenland as a staging post against Nazi Germany, establishing the first military base at Pituffik in 1953. After the war, the pact was formalized in 1951 as a defense treaty, which was renewed in 2004.
Thanks to that same agreement, during the Cold War Washington was able to manage up to 25 troops distributed across 17 bases, demonstrating that the American presence on the island had been rooted for almost 80 years.
The foundations of the Cold War
The Pituffik Space Base, built in 1953, just over a thousand kilometers from the Arctic Circle, has remained operational to this day, although its current presence is much smaller than at the height of the Cold War.
However, history shows that America's right to expand its presence has already been recognized on several occasions, making the new agreement a formalization of an already existing role.
What's new in the agreement signed in Copenhagen?
The document, which has not yet been published in full, provides for permanent US access to the island, the right to station and overflight, as well as the possibility of expanding its military presence . A key clause prohibits non-NATO countries from establishing bases or making strategic investments in critical mineral sectors. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the agreement " a good deal " and added that it " strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area ." At the same time, she reaffirmed " the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination ."
Ban for non-NATO countries
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that " This agreement permanently and comprehensively addresses our security concerns regarding Greenland ." President Trump then proclaimed on Truth: " From now on, no adversary of the United States will be able to maintain a military base in Greenland or make sensitive investments without our express written authorization ." These provisions are intended to curb the ambitions of Russia and China in the Arctic region.
Political reactions and interpretations
The Danish journalist observed that "ministers, diplomats, and officials have successfully sold this agreement to Trump as a great personal victory," highlighting the disconnect between American perception and diplomatic reality. Television commentator Torsten Jansen called it "a spectacular defeat" for the president, as the agreement does not overcome existing structures. In contrast, researcher Marco Jacobsen of the Royal Danish Defence College believes that "Trump emerges as a winner, a good businessman who has pushed Denmark and Greenland towards something new," emphasizing the pact's usefulness for common security needs.
Essentially, the island remains an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark with the expressly recognized right to self-determination. However, the new agreement represents a strategic turning point for the United States, which now has a solid legal basis for a permanent military presence in the Arctic, even in the event of Greenland's future independence. This issue demonstrates how, starting with a maximalist demand—the purchase of the island—Washington has achieved a strategically valuable result without altering any borders.