Trump Secures a HUGE and Historic Deal with Greenland

Matt Margolis, J Media:

The United States, Denmark, and Greenland signed a permanent agreement Friday that hands Washington lasting military rights across the island while permanently shutting out China, Russia, and every other non-NATO adversary. The deal gives the U.S. permanent access, basing, and overflight rights in Greenland, along with the authority to build new military installations there whenever it decides it needs to, according to a senior U.S. official who briefed Fox News Digital.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wasted no time celebrating. "This historic deal is a huge win for the United States and the American people," he said. "This historic agreement permanently guarantees U.S. security interests in the Arctic at zero cost to the U.S. taxpayer."
A senior official added, "The difference here is we're not spending any money for the right" to expand the U.S. military footprint on the island.
The agreement has no expiration date, and it doesn't transfer Greenland's sovereignty to the United States, no matter how badly the left wanted to paint this as some kind of hostile annexation.
Trump himself was the first to celebrate the news, posting on Truth Social that the agreement "completely addresses ALL of our many U.S. concerns" and that "from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval." He called it an "Infinite Life" agreement, one built to last even if Greenland someday becomes independent.
This deal has been over a century in the making. American presidents have long recognized Greenland's strategic Arctic importance, but none of them closed the gap between recognizing the problem and fixing it. The U.S. has operated Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, under a defense agreement dating back to 1951, and this new deal dramatically expands that relationship as Russia and China build up their own military and economic footprint in the region.
Denmark and Greenland no longer hold veto power over future U.S. installations. Washington will still consult both governments, but it can now build wherever it decides is necessary without waiting for their approval. Officials view the expanded presence as a likely component of Trump's planned Golden Dome missile defense system, and under the new terms, only the United States and its allies will be permitted to make "sensitive investments" in Greenland's telecommunications infrastructure, undersea cables, ports, and critical minerals.
Trump has been ridiculed for wanting Greenland, but on Friday, he secured its permanent defense on America's terms, at no cost to a single U.S. taxpayer, with no expiration date and no way for anyone to undo it. It’s a huge win for our country, and for Trump.

The Washington Post, naturally, is scornful:

Trump hails Greenland security deal that falls short of takeover
The agreement, which Danish officials said is not final, stops far short of Trump's often-stated goal of taking possession of the territory.

And the BBC professes to wonder what the big deal is, literally:

Without the official text being released [sure it has - it’s here Ed] it is unclear how exactly the deal differs from a 1951 agreement with Denmark, under which the US can send as many troops as it wants to Greenland.
The US already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base in the north-western tip of the territory.

It then proceeds to answer itself, without admitting it:

Among the agreed provisions is one stating the deal would not expire even if Greenland became an independent country in the future.
The official added that under the deal, the US has unilateral power to build additional military structures with no approval needed from Greenland or Denmark. It includes "permanent access, basing and overflights rights," the official said.
It also bans non-Nato countries from building bases in Greenland, and "bans adversaries from making investments in Greenland that could threaten the United States".
The official added that under the current status quo, adversaries have been allowed to invest in Greenland's "sensitive sectors without investment screening".
The official specifically referenced Russia and China, saying it blocks them from deploying troops or making investments in "sensitive sectors".

Credit where due, NPR managed to report this objectively:

NPR

On Friday, President Trump declared a deal has been struck with Denmark over its oversight of Greenland. Trump has long coveted the mineral-rich island, which Denmark has controlled since the 1700s. Nick Schifrin reports.

Geoff Bennett:

Late today, President Donald Trump announced a deal had been struck with Denmark and Greenland. Mr. Trump has long coveted the mineral-rich island which has been part of the kingdom of Denmark since the 1700s. On social media, Mr. Trump wrote that the deal -- quote -- "gives the United States permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland, completely addressing all of our many U.S. concerns. There will be no cost to the United States."

With us here to unpack this late-breaking development is Nick Schifrin.

So, Nick, what's in this deal?

Nick Schifrin:

Geoff, reminder that the U.S.-Greenland pressure has caused a rift between the United States and Europe and really led to questions in Europe about whether the United States was an ally. And so this was a huge deal when the president started this.

And I have talked to U.S. and European officials just in the last few minutes, and both sides seem to be happy. That's the real headline here. So let's look at what's exactly in this deal.

The top line is this. It provides U.S. permanent basing, access and overflight rights. What does that mean? The U.S. can create new bases on Greenland. It can fly over Greenland and it can keep that ability no matter what Greenland chooses for its own political future in any kind of self-referendum.

Number two, it bans non-NATO bases. That means no Russia, no China bases are allowed on Greenland. There's also this part, the third part, a screening mechanism for investments. That means no Chinese or Russian investments.

And, in return, this last point that is really key for Greenland and Denmark, the Greenland population can choose its political future. That means that they can choose to be independent, which some people on Greenland want to be. And no territory of Greenland is transferred to the United States.

And that, again, was the core of the rift. The president didn't say, we want a little bit more access to Greenland. He said, we want Greenland. And that is a real -- was a real threat to European sovereignty. And that's why the Europeans tonight are breathing a sigh of relief, in addition to the U.S. officials saying this is a good deal.

Geoff Bennett:

And, Nick, remind us why President Trump was so focused on Greenland in the first place.

Nick Schifrin:

He's been talking about this for years, right?

Geoff Bennett:

Right.

Nick Schifrin:

And, really, let's look at the map. And the reason that he's been so focused is that Greenland is the shortest distance between Russia and the United States, so very key for air defense.

And we have also seen Russian and Chinese ships use routes around Greenland that have been opening up because of the warming climate. And so those were the national security concerns. And, in addition, the president has simply seen Greenland as a good investment place.

And he wanted to secure American investment rights, and not Chinese and Russian investment rights when it comes to critical minerals, and it seems like he has with this deal.

Geoff Bennett:

All right, Nick Schifrin, our thanks to you.