Greenland, Denmark reaffirm Arctic island’s sovereignty after Trump’s ‘permanent control’ claim

Denmark and Greenland have clarified the sovereignty position of Arctic island after the US deal in which President Trump remarked that the deal would give Washington “permanent control” over the Arctic Island’s security.

Trump claimed the agreement “gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns”.

On late Friday, the Trump administration reached a deal with Greenland and Denmark. Based on this agreement, the United States will establish a significant military presence on Greenland. It means adversary countries will be barred from building their own bases on the island.

However, Trump’s claim raised questions over the sovereignty status of Greenland. However, both countries reaffirmed that Arctic island sovereignty belongs to Greenland and the deal would not compromise it.

Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that the US must respect the sovereignty of the Danish territory and accept that Greenland is not for sale.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Saturday in a post on Facebook, “I am pleased on Greenland's behalf that ​we are nearing the conclusion of an agreement - an agreement that benefits not only our ​collective security but ⁠also the continued development of this country.”

"The agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination," he added.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also emphasized that the deal with the US “recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination”.

Both countries also hoped that this agreement would end the spat triggered by Trump’s threats of annexing Greenland. The deal is expected to be signed next week during the UN General Assembly.