UNITED NATIONS (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a security deal with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark, in a ceremony taking place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

“It’s going to be a long-term, fantastic relationship,” Trump said at the event in New York.

Trump previously said that the arrangement would give America “permanent control” over security for Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic that he has long coveted.

“Mr President, you have been very clear. You don’t want adversaries to come too close,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen ahead of the signing.

“I fully agree, and with this deal, they are not,” she added, noting that adversaries will not be allowed to get control or significant influence in the territory.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen added that Greenland matters for North American security and for transatlantic security.

“This agreement reflects that we understand our responsibility and act accordingly,” he added.

Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly insisted that the United States needs to control Greenland for strategic reasons.

This has alarmed NATO ally Denmark and sparked fierce pushback from the alliance.