US, Denmark and Greenland to sign security deal for Arctic and North Atlantic
Photo: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Getty Images)
Denmark, Greenland, and the United States expect to sign an agreement as early as next week that will strengthen security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, according to the Danish government.
The governments of the three countries are expected to sign the agreement next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. After it is signed, the agreement must undergo the necessary parliamentary procedures before it enters into force.
"It is encouraging that we are nearing the conclusion of an agreement that ensures and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States, and the Western alliance. The agreement recognizes Greenland's interests and our place in international cooperation. This benefits all of us," says Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
In turn, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also expresses her delight at the prospect of concluding a good agreement. She emphasizes that the agreement will strengthen collective security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic region, and is also beneficial for NATO and Europe.
"And an agreement that simultaneously recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom, as well as the right of the people of Greenland to self-determination," she concludes.
What else is important to know
Last night, President Donald Trump announced that the US, Denmark, and Greenland had reached an agreement granting Washington control over Greenland's security. According to him, this agreement is open-ended.
Trump has also announced that the US would immediately begin increasing its military presence in Greenland and that Washington's adversaries would not be allowed to maintain bases or a military presence on the island.
