Old Defense Pact Grants Trump Authority Over Greenland: Report
A longstanding defense agreement between the United States and Denmark reportedly provides the U.S. government with significant authority regarding Greenland, potentially simplifying any future attempts by President-elect Donald Trump to acquire the territory. The pact, originally signed in 1951 during the height of the Cold War, granted the United States broad rights to maintain military bases and operate freely within Greenland's borders. This arrangement was designed to monitor Soviet submarine activity and secure the North Atlantic. Under the terms of this agreement, the U.S. effectively has a 'free hand' to intervene in the region should it be deemed necessary for defense purposes, a clause that legal experts argue could be interpreted to facilitate a takeover or expanded control without needing additional Danish approval. Trump has repeatedly expressed a keen interest in purchasing Greenland, viewing it as a strategic asset for the U.S. due to its location and untapped natural resources. While Denmark has firmly rejected the idea of selling the autonomous territory, this old pact suggests that the U.S. already possesses a legal framework to assert dominance. The existence of this 1951 agreement adds a layer of geopolitical complexity to Trump's ambitions, turning a theoretical real estate deal into a matter of international defense diplomacy. Analysts suggest that while a purchase is unlikely, the U.S. could leverage this defense pact to secure permanent access to military installations or economic resources, effectively bypassing the need for a transaction. The White House and Pentagon have yet to comment on how strictly they intend to interpret the 1951 terms.
