US Agreement Brings Relief but Greenland Still Has Doubts

NUUK — Greenland and Denmark have reacted with relief after the United States abandoned its threat to annex Greenland. The agreement signed by President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen allows for an expanded US military presence on the island.

Greenland considers it a victory that its right to self-determination has been formally recognized and that its government participated directly throughout the negotiations. According to Nielsen, this is not an agreement “about Greenland,” but an agreement “with Greenland.”

The crisis has also brought Denmark and Greenland closer together, as their cooperation during the negotiations strengthened mutual respect.

Concerns remain, however. The Danish and Greenlandic parliaments must still approve the agreement. Critics regret that the text does not explicitly state that the United States has permanently abandoned its ambition to control Greenland.

In Narsarsuaq, where the US is expected to build a new military base, residents see opportunities for employment but also fear the project could force them to leave their community. Nielsen acknowledged that trust in the United States will have to be rebuilt step by step.