Greenland deal puts Arctic security under NATO’s watch, Denmark says
The agreement is expected to be signed at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday
The United States, Denmark and Greenland are set to sign a deal on Arctic island security on Tuesday at the United Nation General Assembly in New York.
Speaking about the definite content of the agreement, it has not been disclosed by any side. But some doubts have been clarified by both Denmark and Greenland. First it was the sovereignty status of the island which both countries reaffirmed on Saturday that the deal with the US would not complicate the sovereignty of the island. Trump’s “permanent control” over territory sparked these doubts.
When it comes to the security of Greenland, Denmark explained that NATO will be responsible for Arctic security rather than leaving it solely to Copenhagen and Washington.
According to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, "It (the agreement) will be in a form where responsibility for security in the Arctic is not only Danish or American,” adding that to a large extent "it would be NATO that looks after the Arctic.”
"But we have said from the start that we are open to accommodating the United States' legitimate security interests," Rasmussen said on Monday.
On Saturday, NATO spokesperson welcomed the agreement that would help advance stability, security and cooperation in this region.
Authorities in Greenland are working to calm public concerns after a new agreement was reached without revealing key details, including its potential impact on the 1951 US defense pact.
However, opposition politician Erik Jensen offered reassurance online, writing after reading the draft that he is "not worried" and has full confidence in the foreign minister's approach.
