Greenland's parliament ratifies Trump's US security agreement
Greenland's parliament has approved a trilateral security and military-access agreement with the United States and Denmark, paving the way for expanded US military presence on the strategically located island.
The agreement, which was signed in September by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, allows for two new US military bases and Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense system. It also keeps Greenland under Danish control, while reaffirming Greenlanders' right to self determination.
Greenland's approval
On Tuesday in the capital Nuuk, Greenlandic lawmakers voted to ratify the agreement. In a first debate last month, a majority of lawmakers had already signaled support for the deal. Greenlandic Foreign Minister Mute Egede welcomed the ratification, emphasizing the changing security landscape.
We must accept that peace and stability are no longer something we can take for granted.
Mixed reactions
However, not all Greenlandic politicians supported the agreement. Pele Broberg, chair of the pro-independence Naleraq party, questioned the deal's value for Greenland, stating that no economic benefit has been gained from the agreement. The party is looking for a better arrangement that would benefit Greenland when it becomes an independent state.
Path to implementation
The agreement will come into effect after ratification by the Danish parliament, which is due to read the bill over two sessions in November. A vote is scheduled for November 19 in Copenhagen. The deal comes after months of negotiation that followed Trump's initial threats earlier this year to take control of the self-governing Danish territory.
In January 2026, Trump had repeatedly threatened to use military force and tariffs against European allies if he didn't gain control of Greenland, claiming Denmark was not doing enough to defend its arctic territory from unspecified threats from China and Russia. These threats damaged US ties with Denmark and rattled European NATO allies, though tensions cooled after Trump met with NATO chief Mark Rutte in Davos in January.
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