What we know about Trump’s ‘Future Framework Agreement’ on Greenland

US President Donald Trump announced the existence of a “framework for a future agreement on Greenland”.

The announcement came as a surprise after days of heightened tensions that culminated in threats to impose economic sanctions on eight close U.S. allies who oppose his plans to seize the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

So what will come of this deal? Would it be acceptable to Denmark and Greenland – both countries have made it clear they will not give up their sovereignty over the world’s largest island.

President Trump made the announcement on his “Truth” social media platform on Wednesday after speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“Based on my productive meetings with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, we have developed the framework for a future agreement on Greenland,” he said.

“This solution, if completed, would be a great solution for the United States of America and all NATO nations.”

He gave no details but said talks would continue to reach a deal.

Rutte said he did not discuss the key issue of Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland during his meeting with Trump.

Denmark’s view is that the problem is far from over and any deal must still be hammered out between Greenland, Denmark and the United States.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she had been in regular dialogue with Rutte and that the Danes could negotiate on “everything from politics to security to investment to economics.”

“But we cannot negotiate our sovereignty. I have been told that is not the case,” she said in a statement on Thursday.

“Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States will continue to advance and are aimed at ensuring that Russia and China never gain an economic or military foothold in Greenland,” NATO spokesperson Alison Hart said in a statement after Trump’s meeting with Rutte.

However, Aaja Chenmitz, one of the two Greenlandic members of the Danish parliament, said that “NATO has no right under any circumstances to negotiate anything without us in Greenland. Without us, we can talk about nothing.”

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she hoped it would mean “a direct discussion between Denmark, Greenland and the United States on the way forward around Greenland to protect Greenland’s sovereignty”.

Denmark and Greenland’s comments on sovereignty are non-negotiable. This appears to have been refuted by reports that one of the ideas discussed informally was an arrangement similar to two British-controlled military bases in Cyprus.

this New York Times quote Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said one idea being discussed was for Denmark to give up sovereignty over a small area of ​​Greenland where the United States would establish a military base, much like the British model.

Akrotiri and Dekelia have been under British sovereignty since Cyprus’ independence 1960. The treaty has since been modified, but essentially it is considered British territory.

When asked if she knew what the framework agreement contained, Yvette Cooper said only that she now expected two things to happen.

The British Foreign Secretary said: “The first is to resume some of the discussions that Denmark and Greenland have asked for with the United States, which they started in Washington last week, and that is what they want to focus on.”

“This is some very practical discussion about Greenland’s security while making it very, very clear that Greenland’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.”

In supporting the seizure of Greenland, Trump cited threats from Chinese and Russian ships around the island, although defense officials insist there has been no recent increase in Russian and Chinese threats.

At this point, NATO allies are trying to reassure the United States that they will strengthen security in the Arctic, with Mark Rutte telling Reuters on Thursday that such a contribution is also required for the framework agreement.

“We will discuss the necessary measures together with our senior commanders in NATO,” he said, adding: “I have no doubt that we can do this very soon. Of course, I hope in 2026, even early in 2026.”

Yvette Cooper said on Thursday that one of the ideas the UK has been calling for is an Arctic Sentinel, which would be “very similar to NATO’s approach to the Arctic”. baltic sentinel” – Mission to step up surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea after critical undersea cables were severed.

The United States has maintained a military presence in Greenland since World War II.

Under a 1951 agreement with Denmark, the United States can send any number of troops to Greenland. It already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at the Pitufik base in the territory’s northwest tip.

The United States does maintain military bases in many countries, including Germany, but they do not constitute sovereign territory.

Trump insists Greenland lease deal not good enough.

“The state has to take ownership and you defend the ownership, not the lease. We have to defend Greenland,” he said two weeks ago.

He threatened to use force to seize the island until a U-turn at Davos, when he abandoned the threat in favor of freeing his NATO allies.

NATO was founded in 1949 on the principle that an attack on one ally is an attack on all allies. The attacks were supposed to come from outside, and Denmark has made clear that a military attack would lead to the end of the transatlantic alliance, of which the United States is a major partner.

Trump has sought to buy Greenland from Denmark since he first took office, and he is not the only U.S. president to try to do so.

Trump said the United States needs Greenland to defend against possible attacks from Russia and China.

He also said that Greenland is important for him to establish a golden dome defense systemAimed at protecting the United States from missile attacks, European allies could cooperate in this effort.

In addition to Greenland’s strategic location, the United States has spoken of the island’s vast and largely untapped deposits of rare earth minerals, many of which are vital to technologies such as mobile phones and electric cars.

Trump did not say the United States was after Greenland’s wealth, but that U.S. control of the island “puts everyone in a very strong position, especially in terms of security and minerals.”

“This is a forever deal.”