Greenland's parliament has ratified the security agreement reached with Trump
The Greenland parliament has ratified a security agreement reached with Donald Trump. The document expands the U.S. military presence on the island and is aimed at easing tensions. The opposition has questioned its economic benefits.
Greenland Parliament Approves Security Deal with Trump
On November 3, Greenland's parliament ratified a security deal signed earlier this year by the Arctic island with US President Donald Trump. However, some members of an opposition party expressed doubt over the economic benefits of the deal, Reuters reports.
The US, Denmark, and Greenland signed the agreement in September. It aims to ease tensions that arose after Trump's threats to take control of the mineral-rich island.
The deal expands the role of the US military in Greenland — paving the way for two new military bases and Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense system, while reaffirming Danish sovereignty and the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination.
In preliminary debates last month, the majority of lawmakers indicated their support for the deal. In the November 3 vote, 16 lawmakers voted in favor of the agreement, none opposed, and 7 abstained.
The White House stated in January that Trump was discussing options for acquiring Greenland, including the potential use of US military forces. This raised concerns among European governments and prompted intense diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. Greenland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Múte Egede, said the ratification of the agreement was an important step for the island.
"We must recognize that peace and stability are no longer things taken for granted," Egede told lawmakers in Nuuk before the vote.
The opposition Naleraq party, a prominent political voice in Greenland, questioned the economic significance of the deal during the debate.
"We want a better deal that we could benefit from when we become an independent state. But no economic benefit has been gained from this deal," said Pele Broberg, chairman of Naleraq.
The Danish parliament is scheduled to consider and vote on the bill in its first reading on November 11, and in its second reading on November 19.
The executive agreement will enter into force once Denmark and Greenland ratify it, and it does not require approval by the US Senate.