U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement on Greenland’s security a few hours ago, with Washington assuring, according to the U.S. State Department, that China and Russia will not be able to establish military bases or deploy troops on the strategically important Arctic island.
The agreement, reached between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland, strengthens the U.S. role in the region and provides for the possibility of establishing a U.S. military presence, as well as measures to restrict investments from countries that Washington considers adversaries.
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A State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the agreement “ensures that China and Russia cannot establish a base in Greenland, that they cannot send troops there, and that the necessary mechanisms are in place to prevent any investment in sensitive sectors.”
SEE ALSO: “Major military presence on the island”: Trump announced an agreement with Denmark regarding Greenland
At the same time, according to the same official, the United States gains the ability “to act in Greenland as it deems necessary to safeguard the security and defense of the American continent,” while the agreement allows for an increase in the number of U.S. bases on the island, as needed.
Trump: No hostile force will have a presence in Greenland
Donald Trump announced the agreement in a post on Truth Social, claiming that the U.S. has secured “permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland”.
“We worked with representatives from Denmark and Greenland to ensure that the United States will always have every opportunity to dois necessary in Greenland to safeguard and defend the security of Greenland, as well as that of the United States of America,” he said.
The U.S. president emphasized that no adversary of the U.S. will henceforth be able to “have a base in Greenland, maintain a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland without our explicit written approval.” He also stated that the agreement has no expiration date, describing it as an “agreement of indefinite duration.”
Mr. Trump also stated that the United States would immediately begin the process of establishing a “significant military presence” at appropriate locations in Greenland, in cooperation with the local population to develop the necessary infrastructure.
Denmark: A Good Agreement for NATO and Europe
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomed the agreement, emphasizing that it is a development that is “good for NATO and Europe.”
According to her, the agreement recognizes “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as the right of the people of Greenland to self-determination.”
Copenhagen and the Greenlandic government confirmed earlier that an agreement had been reached on security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, and it is expected to be signed next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Greenland Welcomes the Compromise
The head of the Greenlandic government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated that the compromise “guarantees and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the U.S., and the Western alliance.” He also noted that the agreement “recognizes Greenland’s interests and our role in international cooperation.”
It should be noted that the agreement comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s earlier threats regarding U.S. annexation of Greenland, which had sparked reactions in Europe.
Source: Proto Thema
