United States President, Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that he says hands Washington “permanent control over security” on the Arctic island, ending months of tension in which he had threatened to take the territory from a NATO ally.

Trump made the announcement on Friday through a post on Truth Social. He said the arrangement addresses all of America’s concerns, comes at no cost to the United States, and has no end date, describing it as an “infinite life” agreement.

Under its terms, according to the president, no American adversary will be allowed to operate a base, station troops or make sensitive investments in Greenland without Washington’s written approval. He added that his administration would immediately start work with Greenland on developing a large American military presence on the island.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the announcement, saying Greenland would forever remain part of North America’s strategic defence area and that adversaries would be shut out of it and the waters around it. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also said on X that the military would begin building up its presence, pointing to U.S. Northern Command as the arm overseeing the effort.

Copenhagen struck a more careful tone. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland and upholds the right of the Greenlandic people to self determination. Her office said the three governments plan to sign the deal next week during the United Nations General Assembly, although the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments must still act before it can take effect. Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the emerging deal serves all three parties and reflects the territory’s interests and its place in international cooperation.

The pact follows a tense year. Trump had earlier pressed for American ownership of Greenland and floated the use of force, before backing away in January, dropping tariff threats against European allies and speaking of a framework deal reached with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Officials from the three sides are reported to have negotiated quietly for months over the security concerns of a territory of about 56,000 people.

The announcement also gives Trump a foreign policy talking point ahead of the midterm elections.

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