Denmark says the Greenland deal respects its sovereignty, while Trump says it gives the U.S. ‘permanent control over security’

President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. has struck a deal with Denmark and Greenland that gives Washington “permanent control over security” on the island, which he earlier threatened to seize by force. The agreement stops short of his earlier demands to take over the territory, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says it recognizes Danish sovereignty.

NBC News reported that Trump shared the news on Truth Social, writing that the agreement “gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns.” Denmark and Greenland then issued statements of their own.

Frederiksen said, in a statement issued with Greenland’s leaders, that the deal “recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom” and the right of Greenlanders to self-determination, The Guardian reported. Denmark also said any expanded U.S. military presence would not compromise Greenland’s sovereignty. The agreement is expected to be signed by Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. next week around the UN General Assembly in New York City, Denmark said, and it must pass parliamentary procedures in both Denmark and Greenland before taking legal effect, the BBC noted.

How this compares with Trump’s earlier threats

Trump had earlier demanded that the U.S. take over the territory, a semi-autonomous region of NATO member Denmark, and at times threatened military action and said he would take control “one way or the other.” Denmark and its allies warned that such a move could effectively end the NATO alliance.

Trump has argued that the U.S. must control Greenland to keep Russia and China out of the Arctic. Beijing has dismissed that argument as “an excuse.” In January, Trump also announced tariffs on several European countries over the dispute, then dropped the threat days later.

The full text of the agreement has not been released, and the terms below come from U.S. officials. A State Department official told NBC News that the deal rules out any base or troops in Greenland from outside NATO and includes screening mechanisms meant to block investments from Russia and China that could threaten the U.S.

Trump called it an “Infinite Life agreement” and said it would come at “NO COST” to the U.S. He also said the administration will work with Greenland to immediately begin developing a “large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many.”

The U.S. already has a military base on Greenland and expansion rights under agreements dating back to 1951, NBC noted, though the American presence there has shrunk significantly since the Cold War, when missile early-warning systems were installed.

Frederiksen said the deal strengthens shared security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic and is good for NATO and Europe. Greenland government leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen said, “It is gratifying that we are about to enter into an agreement that ensures and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western alliance.” PolitiFact noted that Nielsen described the parties as “close to concluding an agreement,” rather than the done deal Trump announced.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the deal “permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland.” A State Department official told NBC News that the agreement will remain in effect “forever,” including “if Greenland becomes a fully independent country” from Denmark.

The official added that the agreement guarantees the U.S. permanent access, basing and overflight rights and lets it increase the number of bases in Greenland as required.