“It’s a deal that’s forever. The time limit is infinity.”
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that a Greenland framework deal with NATO would provide the United States “total access forever” to the Arctic territory—including the right to station military forces at bases the US has continuously operated since 1951.
“We can do anything we want. We can do military, we can do anything we want,” President Trump told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “It’s the ultimate long-term deal.”
A U.S. official confirmed the Greenland framework deal includes potentially stationing additional forces at Greenland bases, something the US already has permission to do under the 1951 Defense of Greenland agreement, which grants the US authority to operate in the country’s designated defense areas in perpetuity.
What Was Agreed
According to administration officials, the framework includes: access to bases the US has operated for 75 years; the right to station forces, which the US has had since the Truman administration; expanded NATO Arctic security efforts, which NATO was already conducting; and a “piece” of the Golden Dome missile defense project, location unannounced.
“It’s a deal that’s forever,” Trump said. “You know, you’re about 99 years, 50 years. It’s forever.”
The 1951 agreement also has no expiration date.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the discussions were “very productive” and focused on “collective allied efforts to ensure Arctic security.” Asked what specifically was new, Rutte said implementation could happen “early in 2026.”
Denmark’s Position
Danish officials told reporters there have been no direct discussions about granting sovereign parcels of land. Greenland’s government has stated repeatedly that the island is not for sale. As of Thursday evening, there was no pen to paper and nothing had been agreed to, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
“I think everyone likes it,” Trump said of the framework. “I’ll let you know in about two weeks.”
Trump notably ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland, a shift from previous statements. “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable,” he said. “But I won’t do that.”
As part of the Greenland framework deal, Trump withdrew threats to impose 10% tariffs on eight European allies, levies scheduled to begin February 1.
Implementation Timeline
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the US would be “achieving all of its strategic goals with respect to Greenland, at very little cost, forever.”
The 1951 agreement already achieved this, at very little cost, forever.
Developing.
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