“We have some interesting talks going on,” Trump said in an interview published on Saturday, referring to ongoing discussions about acquiring rights to military bases on the Arctic island, including Pituffik Space Base.
According to the New York Post, one possible model under consideration mirrors Britain’s arrangement with its military bases on Cyprus, which are treated as sovereign British territory.
Greenland, an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has become the focus of renewed diplomatic tension between the United States and Denmark, backed by several NATO allies, after Trump revived earlier proposals for Washington to take control of the island.
Speaking last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump demanded that negotiations begin immediately on transferring ownership of Greenland to the United States. While insisting that force would not be used, he said the United States would act with or without European consent.
After meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump announced that a framework had been reached for a future agreement concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region.
He also said he had withdrawn a threat to impose tariffs on European countries that had sent military delegations to the island.
Trump said the proposed agreement would be permanent and “forever,” with no set expiration date.
“We’ll work with NATO on Greenland’s security,” he added.
Asked whether Denmark supports the plan, Trump replied: “It seems like everyone likes it,” and said he would provide more details in about two weeks.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said he remained open to discussing many issues, but added that the island’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were “red lines.”
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Source: PAP, New York Post