President Donald Trump announced Friday, September 18, that the United States has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland giving the US "permanent control over security, and all other needs" in the Arctic territory.

What Trump Announced

"The United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns. There will be NO COST to the United States!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling the arrangement an "'Infinite Life' Agreement." He added: "Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval."

A Larger Military Footprint Planned

Trump said the US would "immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many," adding: "We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction." A State Department official said the deal "completely and permanently" satisfies all US demands surrounding the Arctic island.

When It Will Be Formally Signed

According to a statement from the Danish prime minister's office, the United States, Greenland, and Denmark are expected to formally sign an agreement on "strengthened security in the Arctic and North Atlantic Area" next week during the high-level summit of the UN General Assembly.

What Denmark and Greenland Are Saying

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: "I am glad that we are about to make a great agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United States," adding the agreement would be "great for NATO and Europe as well" and that it "recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination." Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: "The agreement recognizes Greenland's interests and our place in international cooperation. It is to the benefit of us all."

Notably Short on Specifics

Trump did not share the text of any agreement or offer specific details about its terms. The US already maintains an existing agreement with Denmark that allows it to station troops in Greenland, and Denmark retains control over Greenland's foreign policy, national security, and monetary policy, even as Greenland operates as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

A Significant Climbdown From Trump's Original Demands

This deal, as Trump has described it, appears to fall well short of his prior insistence that Greenland become part of the United States outright. Earlier this year, Trump said Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," and had at one point threatened tariffs against European nations in an effort to force US ownership of the island, before scrapping those threats in January in favor of pursuing a security "framework" instead. He framed the announcement in historic terms: "For over 100 years, Presidents have known the strategic importance of Greenland, but NONE of them were able to do anything about it. I am proud to be the President that permanently and conclusively addressed this very important situation."

Why Trump Wants Greenland

Trump has long cited concerns about Russian and Chinese presence in Greenland's surrounding waters as justification for greater US control, saying earlier this year: "It's so strategic. Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place... We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security — and Denmark is not going to be able to do it." He has also expressed interest in the island's substantial mineral resources.

Greenlandic Opposition Persists

Despite the deal, many Greenlanders have voiced strong opposition to expanded US control. Protesters in the capital, Nuuk, have held demonstrations with signs reading "Make America Go Away" and "We Are Not Property!" One Greenlander, heating engineer Lars Vintner, told the Associated Press earlier this year: "I think he should mind his own business. What's he going to do with Greenland? He speaks of Russians and Chinese and everything in Greenlandic waters or in our country... Every summer we go sailing and we go hunting and I never saw Russian or Chinese ships here in Greenland."

American Public Opinion Also Skeptical

A majority of Americans aren't sold on the idea either — polling has found 58% of Americans oppose the US gaining control of Greenland, suggesting Trump's Arctic ambitions haven't generated broad domestic public support even as the administration pushes forward with the agreement.

What's Next

With formal signing expected next week at the UN General Assembly, the coming days should provide more concrete detail on the agreement's actual terms — details that, as of Trump's initial announcement, remain notably vague beyond the broad claims of "permanent" US security control. For continuing coverage, see the full CNN report.