Trump posted today: “Breaking news: I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has reached an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland. Under this arrangement, the United States will permanently assume control over Greenland’s security affairs and all related requirements, fully addressing a wide range of American concerns. The U.S. will incur no costs for this arrangement!
Under my direction, U.S. representatives have engaged in consultations with counterparts from Denmark and Greenland to ensure the United States permanently retains the authority to take any necessary actions in Greenland, thereby safeguarding both Greenland and American security. Furthermore, effective immediately, no adversary of the United States may establish military bases, deploy military forces, or conduct sensitive investments in Greenland without explicit written authorization from the United States.
For more than a century, every U.S. president has recognized Greenland’s strategic importance—but none succeeded in taking concrete action. I am proud that it is under my presidency that this critical issue has been resolved once and for all. This agreement is a ‘permanently valid’ accord with no expiration date.
We are deeply honored and proud of this achievement. The consensus reached today will be cherished by the American people. We will immediately begin constructing large-scale military capabilities in suitable locations across Greenland—there are many viable sites available. We will also collaborate with local Greenlandic communities on development and infrastructure projects.
This outcome represents a significant success for the United States, Denmark, Greenland, and our allied nations. We look forward to working alongside the people of Denmark and Greenland to build a prosperous future on this strategically vital territory. We will stand firm in protecting this region.
For the United States, this marks a realization of long-held ambition—an event of historic significance and profound strategic weight. Thank you all for your attention.”
Commentary: Several years ago, Trump openly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland. Since returning to office, he reportedly considered using force to annex the island, a proposal met with unified opposition from the Danish government and European partners, resulting in diplomatic setbacks. Now, rather than directly pursuing acquisition or annexation, he claims to have secured permanent control over Greenland’s security affairs—without cost, while gaining exclusive authority to approve foreign military presence and sensitive investments. This shift represents a more indirect but persistent strategy to achieve U.S. dominance over this strategically vital Arctic island. However, the so-called permanent agreement currently exists only in Trump’s social media statements; neither Danish nor Greenlandic authorities have officially confirmed its validity, casting serious doubt on its authenticity.
Greenland controls key passages through the Arctic Ocean. As polar ice recedes, the region’s military significance continues to rise. Should the United States gain approval to substantially expand its military footprint there, it would fundamentally alter the existing balance of power in the Arctic and intensify great-power competition in the region. Trump’s high-profile promotion of this diplomatic milestone reflects both strategic calculation in the context of Arctic geopolitics and domestic political maneuvering—to bolster his record with a striking foreign policy achievement. For Europe as a whole, however, if critical Arctic positions fall under sole U.S. control, European influence in the region will be further diminished. By aggressively branding this move as a triumph, Trump risks sowing new divisions among Western allies.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876719852462282/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.