A new US–Denmark deal gives Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security. A smart compromise, or Trump getting almost everything he wanted?
The deal blocks China and Russia from military bases or "sensitive investments" there and lets the US build its own bases without Greenlandic or Danish approval. Denmark says sovereignty stays intact and Greenland's PM calls it fair, but 85% of Greenlanders opposed US annexation in a 2025 poll.
What happened
The US and Denmark announced a security agreement covering Greenland that Trump called an "Infinite Life" agreement — it bars China and Russia from building bases or making "sensitive investments" on the island without US approval, lets the US build its own military sites without Greenlandic or Danish sign-off, and stays in force even if Greenland becomes independent. It does not give the US ownership of Greenland, which had been Trump's stated goal.
Why people disagree
Supporters, including Greenland's PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen, say the deal protects Greenlandic and Danish sovereignty while strengthening Arctic security. Critics and some NATO analysts note Denmark and Greenland never wanted Russian or Chinese bases there anyway, so the concession may cost them little — while the US gains major new military access it didn't have before.
What's still unclear
The full text of the agreement hasn't been publicly released, so most details come from US statements. It's unclear how the US will use its new unilateral base-building rights, and how Greenlanders — 85% of whom opposed annexation in a 2025 poll — will react over time.
Sources
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