Denmark tells UN Greenland security deal strengthens Arctic defence
Denmark’s UN ambassador has defended a new security agreement with the United States and Greenland, saying it benefits Greenland, Denmark, NATO, Europe and wider international security. The pact increases the US military presence in Greenland while leaving the territory within Denmark for now and applying if Greenland later becomes independent.
Denmark’s ambassador to the United Nations has said a recently signed security agreement with the United States and Greenland strengthens defence in Greenland, the NATO area and the American continent. Christina Lassen described the agreement during the UN’s annual gathering of world leaders on Monday as beneficial to Greenland, Denmark, the United States, NATO, Europe and international peace and security. The pact is intended to bolster the US military presence in Greenland and improve NATO security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
It leaves Greenland part of Denmark for now and has eased tensions created by President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for the territory to become part of the United States. According to Lassen, the agreement would continue to apply if Greenland eventually chooses independence. She said progress remained possible through consultation.
Trump has said the United States needs to take Greenland to prevent Russia or China from doing so, while also saying he would prefer a deal for the mineral-rich territory. His position has strained relations within NATO. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen previously warned that a US takeover would threaten the Atlantic alliance.
The issue has also unsettled people in Greenland, whose population the supplied report puts at about 56,000. US, Danish and Greenlandic officials negotiated for months before reaching the agreement. The United States has maintained a military presence in Greenland since the end of the Second World War.
Its current presence is concentrated at Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, where about 200 soldiers support missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for the US and NATO. Before the agreement was signed, Trump said the United States would begin developing a larger military presence at appropriate locations, including two major bases. The supplied material does not give further details about their locations or construction timetable.
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