In brief
In a 16‑0 vote, Greenland’s lawmakers approved a trilateral security pact that lets the U.S. build bases and modernise its operations in the Arctic. The deal keeps Greenland under Danish rule, but it would remain in effect if the island someday becomes independent. The agreement was signed in September by U.S. President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens‑Frederik Nielsen during the U.N. General Assembly.
On Tuesday, lawmakers in Greenland voted unanimously to approve a security pact with Denmark and the United States, giving the U.S. the right to expand its military presence in the Arctic while keeping the island under Danish control.
The vote was 16‑0, with seven legislators choosing to abstain. The agreement was signed in September by U.S. President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens‑Frederik Nielsen on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Greenland’s Foreign Minister Mute Egede said the agreement was a "step forward" for the island’s security.
"The road to this point has been a difficult one for us as a people. But we have stood firm on our fundamental principles, chosen dialogue and taken responsibility for our country’s interests,"he posted on Facebook.
The pact opens the door to more U.S. bases on Greenland and allows the United States to modernise and expand activities at the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland. Under the terms, the deal will apply even if Greenland eventually chooses independence, and it will enter into force only after the necessary parliamentary processes in Denmark and Greenland are completed.
Unlike previous agreements, the U.S. Senate does not need to approve the treaty, and Danish lawmakers plan to debate the pact later this month. The deal is seen as a way to strengthen security in the North Atlantic in the face of rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic region.
