The agreement between the US and NATO regarding Greenland involves the deployment of American missiles and an increased NATO presence in the Arctic. This aims to deter Russian and Chinese interests, as well as to end US threats of tariffs on Europe.
The agreement that convinced US President Donald Trump to de-escalate the situation around Greenland paves the way for NATO to strengthen security in the Arctic region and repel any threat from Russia or China, Bloomberg reports, writes UNN.
Details
The "framework agreement" that Trump mentioned after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos late Wednesday "provides for the deployment of American missiles, mineral extraction rights aimed at deterring Chinese interests, and an increased NATO presence," according to a European official familiar with the negotiations.
The agreement, reached shortly after Trump's arrival at the Swiss resort on Wednesday, also depends on whether the US leader keeps his promise not to impose tariffs against European countries, the official said. For now, this reduces the most serious threat to the transatlantic alliance since the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after World War II.
"When it comes to protecting the Arctic, with a priority on Greenland, we need to spend more energy, more time, more focus on it, because we know that sea lanes are opening up," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in an interview with Bloomberg in Davos.
The issue of sovereignty was not discussed, which was a clear breakthrough in the weeks since Trump – to the increasing alarm of European leaders – repeatedly made dramatic claims to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
"We didn't go into those details at all," Rutte said. Nor into the issue of increasing the American military presence, although the Danish government has said it is "fully open" to such a scenario, Rutte said.
While Trump was enthusiastic about the prospects of a deal, leaders still only have a blueprint of what a final agreement should include – and much work remains to be done, the publication writes.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized this in an interview with Danish media, where she stressed that Rutte does not have a mandate to negotiate on behalf of her country and reaffirmed her position that the transfer of territory to the US is not up for discussion.
"We need to find a way that respects international law and sovereignty," Frederiksen told DR and TV2.
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Beyond the main points regarding Arctic security and the defense of Greenland, the format of the framework agreement – and the extent to which any agreement had been reached – remained unclear, the publication writes.
The publication outlined Trump's "framework agreement" on Greenland:
- changes to the 1951 Treaty guaranteeing requirements for US military bases;
- an enhanced NATO role in Arctic and High North security. This will include a multinational NATO command in Greenland under US command;
- an economic component to be discussed, including mineral extraction rights;
- measures to end Russia's and China's economic and military presence in Greenland;
- The US stops threatening tariffs on Europe.
As noted, elements of what was discussed in Davos were already on the negotiating table. Some of this was similar to what was produced last week in Washington when a Danish delegation met with US Vice President J.D. Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to people familiar with the negotiations. A working group to address US security concerns participated in that meeting.
European NATO allies also made a proposal for alliance-led activities focused on the Arctic and Greenland. Another element of the agreement involves updating the 1951 agreement, which gives the US military broad capabilities to defend Greenland in the context of NATO, sources said.
Trump told Fox Business that the terms of the deal are being discussed, "but essentially it's full access." "There's no end, there's no time limit," Trump said. "We get everything we want for free."
When asked if the US would eventually get Greenland, he replied: "It's possible. But in the meantime, we get everything we wanted, complete security."
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