Trump Proposes New Framework Deal for Greenland Amidst Tensions

Fri Jan 23 2026 16:13:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

US President Donald Trump announces the framework for a potential deal regarding Greenland but faces backlash from Denmark and Greenland's leaders, emphasizing sovereignty issues.

In a surprising announcement, President Trump revealed a 'framework of a future deal' concerning Greenland following recent tensions with allies who opposed his ideas of acquiring the territory. While Trump cited productive discussions with NATO leaders, Danish officials clarified that sovereignty cannot be negotiated. Greenlandic Prime Minister underscored a willingness to enhance partnership opportunities, but asserted that sovereignty remains 'a red line'. The prospect of US military bases in Greenland is on the table, yet both Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any discussions regarding relinquishing sovereignty.

US President Donald Trump has announced there is a framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland.

The statement came as a surprise after days of mounting tensions, culminating with a threat to impose economic sanctions on eight close US allies which have opposed his plans to seize the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

So what could this deal entail and will it be acceptable to Denmark and Greenland - both of which have made it clear they will not relinquish sovereignty of the world's largest island in the Arctic?

What has been said about the framework deal?

President Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social media platform on Wednesday, after talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland, he said.

He did not give details, but said talks would continue to reach the deal.

Rutte, for his part, said he had not discussed the key issue of Danish sovereignty over Greenland in his meeting with Trump.

The view in Denmark is that the issue is far from over and that any agreement must still be hammered out together between Greenland, Denmark and the US.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Danes could negotiate on everything political; security, investments, economy.

But we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty. I have been informed that this has not been the case either, she said in a statement on Thursday.

Nearly 24 hours after Trump's announcement, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said he did not know the details of the deal being discussed, but was ready to negotiate a better partnership with the US. Sovereignty, however, was a red line.

Asked about the role of the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer did not give any details, but said: We've been closely co-ordinating with allies and others over the course of the last few days.

Is there any detail? What are the options?

The New York Times, citing anonymous officials, said one idea under discussion was for Denmark to cede sovereignty over small areas of Greenland where the US would build military bases.

This arrangement would be similar to the status of two military bases in Cyprus, which are controlled by the UK.

However, both Denmark and Greenland have rejected relinquishing sovereignty.

In arguing in favour of seizing Greenland, Trump has mentioned the threat of Chinese and Russian vessels around the island, even though Denmark says there is no threat today.

Nato allies have tried to reassure the US that they will boost security in the Arctic and Mark Rutte told the Reuters news agency on Thursday that the framework deal would also require this contribution.

I have no doubt we can do this quite fast. Certainly I would hope for 2026, I hope even early in 2026.

One of the ideas the UK has been calling for is to set up an Arctic Sentry, said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Thursday, which was a very similar to the approach that Nato has taken to the Baltic sentry.

Will any deal short of 'ownership' please Trump?

The US has had a military presence in Greenland since after World War Two.

Under a 1951 agreement with Denmark, the US can bring as many troops as it wants to Greenland. It has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base in the north-western tip of the territory.

Discussions to reach a deal may centre on a renegotiation of that agreement, according to US officials.

Even if the major political hurdle of transferring sovereignty were to be overcome, all land in Greenland is public and cannot be bought or sold.

Trump has insisted such an agreement is inadequate and believes that ownership is crucial for any deal.

Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership, you don't defend leases. And we'll have to defend Greenland, he said two weeks ago.

In order to acquire the island, he has threatened to use force - until a U-turn in Davos where he dropped that threat to the relief of his NATO allies.

Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen met Rutte two days before Trump's arrival in Switzerland.

Motzfeldt stated, The Government of Greenland has not asked the secretary-general of NATO to negotiate on behalf of Greenland...

Rutte has been criticized for the praise he has constantly showered on President Trump and continues in this vein.