The Greenland Agreement does not provide for the transfer of sovereignty

US-Denmark Greenland deal does not transfer sovereignty

Agreement between the United States and Denmark on Greenland does not provide for the transfer of sovereignty over the island to the United States. This is reported by the Axios citing sources familiar with the details of the negotiations.

According to the publication, the issue is full transfer of control or purchase of Greenland during the meeting officially was not violated.

What the new agreement provides for

The plan is based on modernisation of the 1951 agreement between the US and Denmark and provides for a significant expansion of security cooperation.

In particular, the agreement gives the United States the right to:

• Expand military presence on the island;

• create new ones «defence zones» if necessary.

A separate clause provides for deployment of elements of the US new generation missile defence system in Greenland.

The Arctic and the geopolitical context

The document also contains provisions on:

• strengthening security in the Arctic region;

• countermeasures «malicious influence» of Russia and China;

• extension cooperation in the extraction of critical minerals, with which Greenland is rich.

Context.

Greenland is seen by the United States as strategically important region due to its geographical location, proximity to the Arctic and potential mineral reserves. The increased US presence is in line with Washington's broader strategy of Deterring the influence of Russia and China in the Arctic.