Trump says US has struck security agreement with Denmark over Greenland

President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. has struck an agreement with Denmark that gives the U.S. "permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns." 

"At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America," Trump said in a social media post.

The U.S. and Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, already have an agreement on security, and Trump's post did not provide specific details about what the new agreement entails.

The 1951 agreement already gives the US military sweeping rights on the island, including "to construct, install, maintain, and operate facilities and equipment" and to "to station and house personnel and to provide for their health, recreation and welfare."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in January said the agreement as it is written "gives the United States wide access to Greenland.”

Following Trump's announcement, the government of Greenland and the Danish Prime Minister issued a joint statement saying that Greenland, Denmark, and the U.S., "expect to sign an agreement next week that strengthens security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic region."

The statement did not provide specifics about the agreement, but said it was expected to be signed at the U.N. General Assembly next week and would then need to go through "necessary parliamentary procedures to enter into force."

Trump's announcement comes after months of increased rhetoric from the president, who has repeatedly threatened to take over the territory. Trump's repeated threats sowed tension between the U.S. and its European allies and sparked consternation from Greenlanders.

Trump said that as part of this agreement, "no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval."

The president added that the U.S. will immediately begin the "process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many."

In a statement, Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, said: "I am pleased that there is a prospect of a good agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States. An agreement that strengthens our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area and is thus also good for NATO and Europe. And an agreement that at the same time recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination."