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🔥 Trending event · 19 sources

US and Denmark announce Greenland security deal pending approval

First reported September 18, 2026 by Al Jazeera · covered by 19 sources

In short

US President Donald Trump says the United States and Denmark have reached a deal to expand the US military presence in Greenland and give Washington permanent control over the island’s security. Denmark and Greenland say the agreement would preserve Greenland’s sovereignty and right to self-determination, while its precise scope remains unclear. The pact is expected to be signed next week and still requires parliamentary approval.

GroenlandiaDonald TrumpDänemarkUnited StatesArcticNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization

Written by our news service from the 19 sources below, updated September 23, 2026.

Timeline
  1. Sep 18, 22:01 UTC · Al Jazeera
    Trump claims deal with Denmark gives US ‘permanent control’ over Greenland ↗
  2. Sep 18, 22:18 UTC · France 24
    Trump says US, Denmark reach deal to expand military presence in Greenland ↗
  3. Sep 18, 22:39 UTC · BBC
    US and Denmark reach deal over Greenland's security ↗
  4. Sep 18, 23:02 UTC · The Guardian
    US and Denmark reach security deal after Trump’s threats to take island ↗
  5. Sep 18, 23:16 UTC · CBS News
    Trump says he's struck deal for "permanent control over security" in Greenland ↗
  6. Sep 19, 00:09 UTC · The Sydney Morning Herald
    Trump, Denmark strike deal to expand US military presence in Greenland ↗
Tone of coverage

How the 10 sources covering this story frame each entity. One source, one vote.

Donald Trump0 · 7 · 3
  • criticalMobile Business — “after months of threats by Trump to seize the semiautonomous territory of a NATO ally” ↗
  • neutralCBS News — “Trump says he struck a deal to give the United States "permanent control over security ... in Greenland"” ↗
  • neutralThe New York Times — “President Trump insisted for months that the Danish territory should be part of the United States” ↗
  • neutralThe Independent — “Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland will not be compromised by Trump’s deal” ↗
  • neutralThe Sydney Morning Herald — “Trump, Denmark strike deal to expand US military presence in Greenland” ↗
  • criticalThe Guardian — “after threatening for months to take Greenland by force” ↗
  • neutralFrance 24 — “Trump now says he has struck a deal with Denmark to give Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security” ↗
  • criticalCBC News — “Trump is hailing his new deal with Greenland and Denmark — but a deal already existed. So what changed?” ↗
  • neutralSky News — “President Donald Trump has announced that the US has reached a deal with Denmark” ↗
  • neutralAl Jazeera — “Trump claims deal with Denmark gives US ‘permanent control’ over Greenland” ↗

Labels are assigned per article by our news service with ≥ 60% confidence and a supporting quote. How it works.

All coverage
US and Denmark reach security deal after Trump’s threats to take island

US and Denmark reach security deal after Trump’s threats to take island

The agreement would allow the US to expand its military presence, while Denmark and Greenland say it preserves their sovereignty and right to self-determination Donald Trump announced on Friday that the US had struck an Arctic security pact with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland, after threatening for months to take Greenland by force. The US president cast the deal as a personal triumph, claiming in a post on Truth Social that the “very important, historic, and special” agreement “gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns”. Continue reading...

Donald Trumpcritical
ArcticDonald TrumpDänemark
Sep 18, 2026 · byThe Guardian
US and Denmark reach deal on Greenland, Trump says

US and Denmark reach deal on Greenland, Trump says

The United States, Denmark and Greenland have entered into an agreement for the US to develop a significant military presence on Greenland, while prohibiting US adversaries from building their own bases on the island, Donald Trump said on Friday. In a Truth Social post, the US president wrote that no US enemies would be able to make sensitive investments on the island without the approval of the United ⁠States and that the agreement had no expiry date. "At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America," Trump wrote. Earlier on Friday, Reuters exclusively reported that ‌the US and Denmark were closing in on a deal that would result in an increased US military presence in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, but would stop well short of Trump's long-held dream of acquiring the island for the United States. The US already has nearly ‌total overflight and basing rights in Greenland due to a 1951 treaty. Trump's announcement suggests he ‌was nonetheless pleased with the outcome of the negotiations and that he might not revive his territorial claims, at least in ‌the near future. He said, without elaborating, that the ‌US would soon be rolling out a large military presence on the island, which already hosts one Space Force base in its remote northwest. "This is a dream come true for the United States of America," ‌Trump wrote. Denmark's Minister of Defense Jeppe Bruus, along with Greenland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Mute B. Egede, visits the NATO military exercise Arctic Shield 2026 in Narsarsuaq, Greenland, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. (Reuters) Extent of agreement remains unclear The Danish prime minister's office said on Friday that the agreement would ⁠strengthen North Atlantic and Arctic security. Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a statement that the agreement recognized Greenland's interests and the Arctic island's place in international cooperation. "This benefits us all," he said. Much was unclear as of Friday night, including whether any new US bases would be constructed as ⁠a result of the agreement. Trump's Truth ⁠Social posts about negotiations or agreements often lack context or specifics. Imran Bayoumi, a former Pentagon official now with the Atlantic Council think tank, said it would be new if the US can build bases without the approval of Greenland or Denmark but that largely "it seems ⁠that Washington could have achieved a lot of these objectives through diplomacy and dialogue without straining the broader US-NATO relationship.” It was also unclear how the agreement would be received in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The island's residents aspire to independence and have bristled at US attempts to assert control. In a separate statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the deal "permanently and completely" addressed Washington's national security concerns with respect to the island. "Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area ‌of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area," he wrote. A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss specific terms, said the deal prohibits non-NATO countries from building a base in Greenland and will allow only the US and its allies to make unspecified "sensitive investments." The official said the agreement grants the US permanent access, basing and overflight rights, and would continue to apply even if Greenland becomes independent.

Donald Trumpneutral
Donald TrumpDänemarkGroenlandia
Sep 19, 2026 · byMobile Business
US and Denmark reach deal on Greenland, Trump claims 'permanent control' over island

US and Denmark reach deal on Greenland, Trump claims 'permanent control' over island

Not so long ago, inhabitants of Greenland feared that the US was preparing to invade, after US President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed the US wanted to control the Arctic territory. But Trump now says he has struck a deal with Denmark to give Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security, while ensuring the territory remains firmly in the hands of Denmark. Denmark and Greenland have both hailed the deal, but its exact terms remain unclear. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Washington, Fraser Jackson.

Donald Trumpneutral
ArcticDonald TrumpDänemark
Sep 19, 2026 · byFrance 24
US and Denmark reach Greenland security deal

US and Denmark reach Greenland security deal

The US and Denmark have announced a deal on Greenland's security, resolving a diplomatic dispute sparked by President Donald Trump when he threatened to seize the semi-autonomous territory. The exact terms of the deal remain uncertain but it seems Denmark will maintain its sovereignty while the US will be able to develop a significant military presence on the island, and ban their adversaries from building their own bases on the island. Details by Charlotte Hughes.

Donald TrumpDänemarkGroenlandia
Sep 20, 2026 · byFrance 24
Read: US strikes security deal with Greenland, Denmark

Read: US strikes security deal with Greenland, Denmark

President Trump on Tuesday signed a trilateral security agreement with Greenland and Denmark on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City. “We’re going to have a tremendous relationship, a secure relationship, and we look forward to it,” Trump said during the signing ceremony. “We’ll be working very hard and very much…

Donald TrumpDänemarkGroenlandia
Sep 22, 2026 · byThe Hill
Trump's deal with Denmark and Greenland: Key takeaways

Trump's deal with Denmark and Greenland: Key takeaways

U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement about the status of the Arctic island after months of threats by Trump to seize the semiautonomous territory of a NATO ally. The deal was officially signed Tuesday in New York, after U.S., Greenlandic and Danish officials had quietly negotiated for months behind the scenes - searching both for solutions to address some of Trump’s security concerns about the territory, as well as alleviating Danish and Greenlandic fears of being taken over by the U.S. The three parties expressed satisfaction with the deal at the signing ceremony - but what exactly does it say? Washington is allowed to "modernize and expand” its activities at the remote Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, according to the agreement. The U.S. can also set up "defence areas” at Narsarsuaq in the south and Mestersvig in the east, and "may establish additional defense areas in Greenland and strengthen its military operations or facilities.” The accord calls for wide U.S. military mobility on Greenland’s territory, including "undersea access," noting that " the security situation in the Arctic is changing and that more efforts are needed to ensure security there in the future.” US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen attend a trilateral signing event regarding a deal on Greenland The agreement reaffirms "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” and recognizes the Greenlanders' "right to self-determination.” The agreement says all three parties "support a stronger NATO engagement in the Arctic, including as regards planning, presence, exercises, and joint intelligence gathering.” It allows U.S. military access to Greenland to defend the NATO area, Greenland itself and the American continent - including through a "Golden Dome defense system." The deal spells out that "no state that is not a member of NATO shall be allowed to establish its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland nor shall they be allowed a persistent presence of military forces in Greenland." In the preamble, the signatories recognize "the need to protect the pristine environment of Greenland.” It also stresses "the economic, social, and cultural rights of the people of Greenland, including with respect to their lands and their way of life, including hunting, fishing, and other traditional, cultural, historical, future activities.” The accord "does not have an end date” and, if Greenland chooses to become independent, it will agree to remain in NATO and take on Denmark’s rights and obligations under the deal. The deal will only "enter into force” once the "necessary parliamentary processes of the Kingdom of Denmark, in conjunction with Greenland, have been completed.”

Donald Trumpcritical
ArcticDonald TrumpDänemark
Sep 23, 2026 · byMobile Business