US President Donald Trump on Saturday, September 19 (IST), announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says gives Washington permanent control over Greenland’s security.
Trump also said that this agreement allows the United States of America to expand American military presence and restricts access by US adversaries, as per IANS.
While posting on social media platform X, the US President wrote that the arrangement would have no expiry and would address US security concerns over the strategically important Arctic island. A State Department official said its provisions would remain in force even if Greenland became fully independent.
“There will be NO COST to the United States!” Trump wrote. Trump also said that American representatives had worked with Denmark and Greenland at his direction to secure the arrangement.
Donald Trump says, ‘The US adversary can have a base in Greenland’
The supplied announcements did not include the agreement’s text or statements from Denmark and Greenland. They also did not explain how the planned military expansion would be financed, despite the assertion that the deal would carry no cost to American taxpayers.
Trump further said that the agreement gave Washington authority over potential military activity and sensitive investments by adversaries.
He added, “Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland without our express written approval,” as per IANS.
US Military’s presence to be expanded
The president also announced plans to begin expanding the US military presence. He did not identify proposed sites, specify troop numbers, or provide a construction timetable.
“We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many,” the US President said.
He said, “We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction.”
Marco Rubio hails new agreement between the US, Denmark, and Greenland
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday (local time) hailed the newly announced security agreement reached between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland as a “huge win”.
Rubio said that the pact will permanently address Washington’s national security concerns in the Arctic and keep the territory within North America’s strategic defence area, as per ANI. In a post on X, Rubio said that the deal would permanently guarantee Washington’s security interests in Greenland without cost to US taxpayers.
“This historic deal is a huge win for the United States and the American people. Thanks to President Trump’s vision and leadership, this historic agreement permanently guarantees U.S. security interests in the Arctic at zero cost to the U.S. taxpayer. Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area. This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland,” the post read.
(With inputs from IANS and ANI)
