Greenland parliament approves trilateral security deal with US and Denmark

Greenland's parliament approved a trilateral security agreement with the United States and Denmark that paves the way for an expanded American military presence on the Arctic island, lawmakers said on Wednesday.

The measure passed with 16 votes in favour, none against and seven abstentions. Backers say the pact is intended to strengthen security across the Arctic and the North Atlantic while keeping Greenland under Danish sovereignty.

Path to new US bases

The deal opens the door to multiple US bases on Greenland and is meant to ease tensions raised by repeated public calls from US President Donald Trump about the island’s status. At the same time, the agreement states that Greenland will remain a territory under Danish control and that its provisions would still apply should Greenland one day choose independence.

President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed the agreement in September on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Danish members of parliament are expected to debate the pact later this month. The agreement will "enter into force" only after the necessary parliamentary procedures in the Kingdom of Denmark together with Greenland have been completed, according to the text of the agreement.

Supporters in Nuuk framed the vote as a way to secure greater defence cooperation in the face of growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic, while critics warned that closer military ties with Washington could complicate Greenland’s long-term political choices.

Photo: press material from the event