Greenland prime minister welcomes deal with US

The security of the United States is directly linked to the security of Greenland, and vice versa.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made the statement ahead of the signing of a trilateral agreement on Greenland on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

US President Donald Trump and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also attended the signing ceremony.

“This agreement should put to rest any doubt today and in the future about where Greenland's loyalty lies. Our commitment to this alliance and to the security we build together is not in question. We are, have been and will remain a steadfast friend of the United States and a part of the Western Alliance. Your security is our security and our security is your security. We are truly pleased with the result that strengthened our shared security and strengthened our bond as close allies,” Nielsen said. He added that “this is a win-win-win agreement.”

According to Frederiksen, the sides are signing “a deal that can last forever.”

After the document was signed, Trump did not answer reporters’ questions about whether he had given up on acquiring the entire island. One reporter remarked that the US president looked happy despite not gaining ownership of Greenland, as he had wanted. Trump smiled but did not respond.

The US president has repeatedly said that Washington seeks ownership of Greenland to ensure the island’s reliable defence. He has argued that no one would want to defend “a licensing agreement or a lease” in the event of an actual military confrontation in the middle of the ocean.