Brussels, Belgium. The United States is considering a deal for Greenland modelled on the UK’s sovereign military bases in Cyprus, according to officials familiar with talks between NATO and President Donald Trump, the New York Times reported. Officials said discussions in Brussels focused on granting the US sovereignty over small pockets of Greenland where military bases are located.
Talks on sovereignty model
Two officials told the newspaper that discussions in Brussels on Wednesday centred on granting the United States sovereignty over small pockets of Greenland where military bases are located, similar to how Britain’s Akrotiri and Dhekelia bases in Cyprus are regarded as British territory. One official who attended NATO meetings compared the concept directly to the UK bases in Cyprus, while a second official briefed on the discussions confirmed the Greenland idea was modelled after the sovereign British bases.
Trump cites framework deal
Trump claimed Wednesday he struck a framework deal with NATO over Greenland hours after alliance officials held the discussions, according to three senior officials familiar with the talks, the Times reported. He later posted on Truth Social that he and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” without offering details, adding that “this solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations.”
Shift away from conflict with allies
The report said the announcement came amid moves that appeared to pull the United States back from possible military and economic conflict with allies over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Trump withdrew tariff threats against European allies who resisted his demands for Greenland ownership and said he would not use force to assert American control.
Unclear link to proposed compromise
Senior Western officials familiar with the talks said the territorial compromise was discussed during Wednesday meetings in Brussels among top NATO military officers, according to the Times. Officials said Rutte had been pursuing a compromise this week, but they did not know whether the concept of US sovereignty over small pockets of Greenland for military bases was part of Trump’s announced framework.
NATO statement
Asked for details of the framework, NATO said in a statement that “negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States will go forward aimed at ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold — economically or militarily — in Greenland.”
What details, if any, will emerge about the proposed framework for Greenland and the Arctic region?
