On January 25, 2026, President Trump stated on Friday that the United States will gain sovereignty over the area where the U.S. military base is located on Greenland and will possess all rights to these territories.
During an interview with the New York Post in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday, the President discussed the issue of Greenland. He said, “Yes, we will get everything we want. We are having some interesting discussions.”
Trump has stirred up a diplomatic storm in Europe in recent days due to his pledge to purchase Greenland. He believes that only by incorporating Greenland as part of the United States can the island be effectively protected from encroachment by China and Russia.
The issue of Greenland Island has evidently been a significant topic of discussion between Trump and European leaders during his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. After meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at Davos, he announced that a framework agreement had been reached on the issue of Greenland Island. However, negotiations are still ongoing on specific issues.
One of the proposed solutions being discussed is for the United States to have sovereignty over the U.S. military base on Greenland, such as the Pituffik Space Base, located in the northwest of Greenland, which is the northernmost U.S. military base.
An insider confirmed to the New York Post that the plan is based on the “Sovereign Base Area” agreement in Cyprus. In Cyprus, British military bases are considered British territory.
However, it is currently unclear whether Denmark and Greenland agree to this plan.
U.S. officials are concerned that if Greenland Island were to gain independence, U.S. military operations on the island could be restricted or even terminated.
Greenland Island has attracted increasing international attention due to its critical mineral resources such as rare earth elements. This strategic island has become crucial for national security in the Arctic region. President Trump has made it clear that the U.S. interest in Greenland lies in thwarting China and Russia’s ambitions in the Arctic.
Although China is not located within the Arctic Circle geographically, in January 2018, the Chinese Communist Party issued its first Arctic strategy promoting the “Polar Silk Road,” portraying China as a “near-Arctic state,” which sparked controversy. This white paper claimed that China has “legitimate rights and interests” in the Arctic region.
NATO has stated that the goal of the Greenland Island framework agreement is to ensure that China and Russia will never be able to establish a foothold in Greenland, economically or militarily.