"Victory" over Washington.. Welcome in Denmark to Trump's announcement about the Greenland deal

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Citizens of Denmark and Greenland welcomed on Saturday the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding an agreement about the island, while Danish commentators saw it as a victory for Copenhagen over Washington.

Orla Joulson, a grassroots activist supporting Greenland's sovereignty, wrote on social media platform 'X': 'We have won our battle against Trump's ambition to seize Greenland.' The activist added, 'The new agreement explicitly recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the people of Greenland to self-determination.'

In Denmark, many expressed relief at the prospect of reaching an agreement with the United States.

Michael Borgaard from Gentofte, north of the Danish capital Copenhagen, said he hopes the crisis is over 'given that just two weeks ago Donald Trump published that map showing Greenland... as part of America.'

Michael Freese, a 51-year-old high school teacher in Copenhagen, expressed his belief that this agreement "is the most realistic solution for us right now."

The Danish government expressed cautious optimism today, Saturday, regarding the announcement by the U.S. president about an agreement concerning Greenland aimed at enhancing the U.S. military presence there while keeping the island under Danish control, following months of threats from Trump to seize the semi-autonomous region that is one of NATO's allies.

In Greenland, the chief diplomat of the Arctic island supported that position and stated that the agreement was long overdue.

Trump said yesterday, Friday, that the agreement would give the United States "permanent control" over security and all other needs in Greenland, fully addressing all of our numerous American concerns."

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen wrote on Instagram this morning, Saturday: "Next week could be a good week... for Greenland, Denmark, and the United States alike."

Rasmussen expressed hope for more stability following a breakthrough in the dispute with Washington over Greenland. He wrote on Facebook today, Saturday, that he hopes the ongoing uncertainty will soon end with a binding agreement.

He added that the agreement aims to enhance security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, thereby strengthening collective security within NATO and Europe, while respecting Denmark's "red lines."

For his part, the Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens Frederik Nielsen, stated that the agreement will benefit "not only our collective security but also sustainable development here in the country."

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, later said on Saturday in the Danish capital that the agreement is "very welcome," without providing further comments on it.

Greenland's Foreign Minister, Múti P. Aajidi, expressed his happiness with this development, saying: "We now have an agreement within reach."

Trump stated that under the agreement, his administration will "immediately" begin the process of developing a larger military presence on the mineral-rich Danish island.

The office of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the agreement with the United States regarding Greenland will be signed by the three governments next week during the United Nations General Assembly meetings, but parliamentary approval from Denmark and Greenland is still needed before it can be implemented.

Danish commentators considered on Saturday that the agreement announced by the U.S. president, which he said grants Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security, represents a diplomatic victory for Copenhagen.

Since returning to the White House last January, Trump has repeatedly emphasized Washington's need for Greenland, the self-governing Danish territory, for strategic reasons, which has caused tensions that lasted for months with Denmark, a U.S. ally in NATO, and raised concerns across Europe.

Trump announced on Friday that the United States, Denmark, and Greenland have reached an agreement that grants Washington "permanent control" over the security of the island and prevents Russia and China from establishing bases in the Arctic territory. The terms of the agreement remain unclear, but Denmark insists that it does not affect its sovereignty.

While Trump praised the agreement as a dream come true for the United States, Danish commentators quickly stated that Copenhagen largely emerged from it without losses.

American affairs correspondent Jakob Heinle Jensen wrote in the Danish newspaper "Berlingske": "Shut up. Don't tell Trump that the Kingdom of Denmark is the one that won." He added that "the craziest part is that ministers, diplomats, and officials managed to market (the agreement) to Trump as a major personal victory."

Commentators also pointed out that Washington was already able to enhance its military presence on the island, provided that Denmark and Greenland were informed in advance, under a defense agreement signed in 1951 and updated in 2004.

Mark Jacobsen, a researcher at the Royal Danish Defence College, told Agence France-Presse that the agreement, based on the information available so far, seems beneficial for all three parties. He added, "Donald Trump benefits from his ability to appear as the victor. He acted like a savvy businessman who pushed Denmark and Greenland into a new venture."

He continued: "We know from experience that he needs to appear victorious, especially domestically, if he wants to find a way out of this issue." Jacobsen saw this as important, especially at a time when Trump is waging an unpopular war with Iran and a trade war with Canada.

He said, "There is no need to open another front with Greenland, and perhaps engage in a trade war with the European Union," referring to concerns raised by statements made by Trump earlier this year.

Regarding Greenland, a "significant gain" may be obtaining additional economic compensation related to the expansion of the U.S. military presence, according to the researcher. He added, "As for Denmark, the focus will primarily be on appearing as a good partner, whether for Greenland or the United States."

For his part, the American affairs commentator on TV2, Torsten Jensen, believed that Trump does not seem to have achieved anything that he could not have accomplished through traditional diplomacy. Jensen stated, according to the channel, "Although Trump is trying to promote the agreement loudly as a victory, it represents, in my opinion, a resounding defeat."

Jacobsen stated that the agreement practically means that the discussion about the United States annexing Greenland "is no longer on the table," but it will not change much on the ground, based on the description Trump provided. He explained that the United States had deployed up to 25,000 soldiers in 17 military bases in Greenland during the Cold War, which means that enhancing its military presence was essentially possible.

Trump also emphasized that the agreement will prevent U.S. adversaries, specifically China and Russia, from establishing bases on the island.

However, Jacobsen pointed out that Denmark had previously prevented a Chinese company from purchasing a former military base in Greenland in 2016.