“Essentially, it’s a large real estate deal.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
A lot of things can be done,” U.S. President Donald Trump said in August 2019, during his first term, when asked whether the U.S. would be interested in acquiring Greenland.
asserted
U.S. → do → Greenland
After he returned to office in January 2025, Mr. Trump repeated his threat.
asserted
Trump → return → threat
“We need Greenland for national security purposes,” he said in January 2025.
asserted
he → need → January
You look outside.
asserted
You → look → ?
You have Chinese ships all over the place.
asserted
You → have → place
You have Russian ships all over the place.
asserted
You → have → place
We’re not letting that happen.”
asserted
that → let → ?
Greenland, a Danish territory located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, was home for at least 30 American military bases and installations during the Second World War.
asserted
Greenland → locate → War
The island’s strategic profile grew in recent years after Russia and China stepped up their activities in the Arctic region, partly because of ice melting, which opened up previously unpassable regions.
asserted
which → grow → regions
Mr. Trump’s threats to take over the island incensed Denmark, a founding member of NATO, and America’s other European allies.
asserted
threats → take → NATO
The crisis further strained the transatlantic ties.
asserted
crisis → strain → ties
But on September 22, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the leaders of the U.S., Denmark and Greenland signed a new security agreement, which, according to Mr. Trump, would allow the U.S. “to do what is necessary in Greenland”.
uncertain
what → sign → Greenland
The 1951 U.S.-Denmark security agreement provides Washington broad rights to build military bases on the ice-covered island.
asserted
agreement → provide → island
Most American bases on the island were shut down over the years, particularly after the Cold War.
asserted
bases → shut → War
Now the U.S. stations some 150 troops at its Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.
asserted
U.S. → station → Greenland
U.S. officials wanted to increase this military presence, which they argued was important to monitor and defend the northern approaches of North America and the North Atlantic at a time when the race to control the Arctic is heating up.
asserted
race → want → Arctic
Russia has extensive Arctic territory and military infrastructure.
asserted
Russia → have → territory
Greenland also possesses significant mineral resources, including rare earths, a segment that is currently dominated by China.
asserted
that → possess → China
U.S. officials have raised concerns about potential Chinese investments in Greenland.
asserted
officials → raise → Greenland
So Washington wants to compete with Russia in the Arctic and build new military infrastructure to monitor movement in the frozen waters and prevent Chinese influence in the region, besides making sure that America has access to the island’s mineral resources.
asserted
has → want → resources
Terms of the deal
Denmark, which has already blocked Chinese investments in Greenland, had said it would allow Washington to expand its military presence on the island, but insisted that Danish sovereignty and Greenland’s self-governing rights be respected.
asserted
sovereignty → block → island
The latest security agreement with the U.S. sought to address both America’s demands and Danish concerns.
asserted
agreement → seek → demands
According to the agreement, even if Greenland, which has a population of around 50,000, becomes independent, it would respect the deal with the U.S. and stay within NATO.
uncertain
it → accord → NATO
In other words, this deal provides the U.S. indefinite access to the island’s military facilities.
asserted
deal → provide → facilities
The deal, which reaffirms “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark” and recognises the “self determination of the people of Greenland”, also stipulates that no hostile power (non-NATO countries) can establish military facilities on the island or invest in its sensitive areas (mainly rare earths).
asserted
power → reaffirm → areas
The U.S. will be allowed to establish additional defence facilities in Narsarsuaq in the south, where it had an airfield during the Second World War, and in Mestersvig in the east.
asserted
it → allow → east
The Mestersvig facility would allow the U.S. to monitor the waters between the island and the Scandinavian region.
asserted
U.S. → allow → island
Greenland would also be part of the U.S. Golden Dome anti-missile shield, and Danish authorities have pledged to work together with Washington to counter espionage in Greenland, a reference to alleged Chinese activities in the region.
asserted
authorities → pledge → region
On paper, Greenland would remain a self-governing territory of Denmark.
asserted
Greenland → remain → Denmark
But in practice, the U.S. would have indefinite rights to build military facilities on the island and a say in its economic policies and resource extraction.
asserted
U.S. → have → policies
Mr. Trump may not have secured ownership of the world’s largest island, but he appears to have secured almost everything else.
uncertain
he → secure → everything
The Aporia
