US President Donald Trump has announced there is a framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland. The statement came as a surprise after days of mounting tensions, culminating with a threat to impose economic sanctions on eight close US allies which have opposed his plans to seize the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
So what could this deal entail and will it be acceptable to Denmark and Greenland - both of which have made it clear they will not relinquish sovereignty of the world's largest island in the Arctic?
President Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social media platform on Wednesday, after talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland, he stated. He did not provide specifics but indicated that discussions would continue.
Rutte, for his part, mentioned he did not discuss Danish sovereignty over Greenland in his conversation with Trump. The Danish perspective is that any agreement on the matter needs to include both Greenland and Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen assured that while political, security, and economic discussions are on the table, sovereignty is off-limits.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen expressed readiness for negotiations, yet emphasized that sovereignty was a red line. The New York Times reported discussions may involve Denmark ceding sovereignty over certain areas for US military bases, but both Denmark and Greenland have rejected any compromise on sovereignty.
Trump's insistence on ownership has raised concerns, especially after he had once alluded to the use of force in acquiring Greenland, a threat he recanted at Davos. There is historical precedent for US military presence in Greenland, solidified through a 1951 agreement with Denmark allowing substantial troop deployments, though discussions may revolve around renegotiating that arrangement.
Despite indicating a desire for ownership, Trump has not explicitly stated the US aims to exploit Greenland's resources, stressing national security benefits instead. As dialogues progress, it remains uncertain whether any compromise might meet Trump's assertive expectations.
