United States Agrees Deal for Permanent Security Control Arrangements in Greenland, Signing Planned in New York

Key facts

• President Donald Trump announced on September 18, 2026 that the United States has struck a deal giving it permanent control over security in Greenland, with the governments of Greenland and Denmark confirming the agreement.
• The agreement is expected to be signed in New York City on Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly and must still pass through parliamentary procedures in Denmark.
• Under the deal, the United States is guaranteed permanent access to Greenland and overflight rights, may potentially increase the number of bases, and non-NATO members are barred from establishing military bases there, while adversaries are restricted from sensitive investments.
• The deal will remain in place permanently even if Greenland becomes a fully independent country.
• Greenland has hosted a United States military base on its western coast since the 1950s.
• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal strengthens common security in the Arctic and North Atlantic and recognizes the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlandic self-determination.
• Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the agreement as gratifying and said it recognizes Greenland's interests.
• Trump had earlier pushed to buy Greenland from Denmark, threatened tariffs in January before calling them off, and formed the framework of a future deal with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
• The NATO military exercise Arctic Shield 2026 was held in Narsarsuaq, Greenland in September 2026, involving around 400 soldiers from about 10 NATO nations.