Trump Announces US-Denmark-Greenland Security Deal, Claims 'Permanent Control'

President Trump announced late on September 18, 2026 that the US, Denmark and Greenland had reached a security agreement he called an 'Infinite Life' deal — one he said 'never ends' and grants Washington 'permanent control over security, and all other needs' in Greenland, months after he refused to rule out military force to acquire the Arctic territory. A State Department official said the agreement bars non-NATO adversaries — explicitly naming China and Russia — from building bases, stationing troops or making 'sensitive investments' in Greenland without US approval, and gives Washington the right to build its own military facilities on the island without requiring separate Greenlandic or Denmark approval; officials said the arrangement would remain binding even if Greenland achieves independence from Denmark. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the pact 'permanently guarantees U.S. security interests in the Arctic' and that 'Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America.' Key details — including the scale of any expanded US military presence and whether Washington gains any formal power over Greenland's foreign policy or resource development — were not disclosed; the deal is expected to be formally signed at the UN General Assembly in New York the following week, pending Danish parliamentary approval. The announcement lands two days after NATO Secretary General Rutte's UK visit and the same day NATO's Chiefs of Defence convened in Copenhagen and SACEUR Grynkewich briefed the Pentagon's Colby on Europe force-posture options.