US President Donald Trump, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic Foreign Minister Múte B. Egede, and Greenlandic Head of Government Jens-Frederik Nielsen at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/TT
With the new Greenland agreement, there should be no doubt about which side the island stands on.
It changes a few things in the short term—but, above all, it prevents everything from changing in the long term.
The agreement signed by the US, Denmark, and Greenland in New York on Tuesday is intended to put an end to a high-profile dispute between allies that has lasted a couple of years.
Trump has expressed a desire to buy or control Greenland. The parties have agreed to update a defense agreement dating back to 1951. Here are the key issues.
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Security
The US already has significant military latitude in Greenland. Its presence was even greater during the Cold War, though most bases have since been decommissioned.
As the Arctic melts, a vast new ocean is opening up in the north—bringing with it valuable shipping lanes and additional areas of potential conflict with Russia and China. By utilizing Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the UK, NATO can control the North Atlantic and the passage to the north.
Under the new agreement, the US immediately gains the right to establish two military bases—one in southern and one in eastern Greenland. American warships and submarines are granted freedom of movement in Greenlandic waters. Greenlandic territory may also be used for the "Golden Dome" forward-deployed air defense missile system. If the US wishes to expand its military presence, it should be able to do so via a fast-track bureaucratic process.
The idea of non-NATO states stationing military forces in Greenland was already off the table.
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Mining
Greenland has at times actively courted—primarily—Chinese companies that showed interest in the vast riches beneath Greenlandic soil: precious minerals, rare earth metals, and uranium.
This served as a way for Greenland to attract more attention from Denmark and its allies. Chinese and Russian interests have been blocked, often through Danish intervention.
The EU and the US need greater access to highly sought-after rare earth metals, a market currently dominated almost entirely by China.
Greenlanders themselves have banned uranium mining. Other mining projects have failed due to the long, costly lead times required to launch operations in remote, ice-covered regions.
Now, only EU and NATO countries—and their partners—are permitted to have influence in "sensitive sectors" such as the mining industry.
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Independence
Most Greenlanders aspire to independence, yet their society remains largely funded by Denmark, and few are in a rush.
Previously, they could—at least in theory—have broken away from the Kingdom, scrapped past agreements, opened the door to mining investments, and steered a course away from the EU and NATO.
That option is now entirely ruled out. Even if Greenland gains independence, it has committed to remaining within NATO’s security framework and, if necessary, becoming a member.
The agreement has no expiration date. However, unlike previous agreements, Greenland is at the table this time as a somewhat more equal partner as its future is clearly mapped out.
Facts
Greenland’s Self-Government
Greenland is the world’s largest island, with a population of approximately 57,000, and is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The former colony became a Danish county in 1953 and gained self-government in 1979; this autonomy was expanded in 2009. It was established that Greenland has the right to declare independence from Denmark—if and when a referendum is held in which the Greenlandic people vote in favor of it.
Most Greenlandic political parties support independence, but there are differing views on the pace at which it should occur, given that Greenlandic society remains dependent on Danish financial aid. Many Greenlanders desire independence, but few want it to come at the expense of their standard of living.
Denmark’s King Frederik X is the head of state, and the Danish government manages Greenland’s defense and foreign policy. Two seats in the Folketing in Copenhagen are reserved for Greenlandic representatives.
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