Is Donald Trump finally letting go of Greenland? That is what the agreement between the United States and Denmark, announced on 18 September, suggests. The US President claims that the agreement allows US forces to take “permanent security control” of the island, without threatening its sovereignty. In practical terms, this will allow for the expansion of US military presence whilst preventing the United States’ adversaries – notably China and Russia – from establishing a presence on Greenlandic territory without Washington’s consent.
By at least superficially getting what they wanted, both sides can now claim a diplomatic victory. On the American side, Donald Trump has boasted of obtaining the security guarantee he had so eagerly sought; and on the Danish side there is satisfaction that the agreement safeguards Copenhagen’s interests, and may finally put an end to Trump’s incessant threats. For some critics, however, there is no cause for celebration: coming after months of political pressure and threats, the Greenland agreement normalises coercion as a negotiation strategy.
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