Greenland’s inhabitants will determine future of territory, Foreign Minister says after proposed U.S. deal

Open this photo in gallery:A drone view of Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 25. U.S. President Donald Trump said late Friday that the U.S. will 'immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence' in Greenland.Marko Djurica/ReutersGreenland’s Foreign Minister has insisted that the proposed deal with the United States protects the island’s right to self-determination and is focused primarily on increasing Arctic security, but analysts say it could also give the U.S. a veto over mineral projects.U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Friday that he’d reached a deal with Denmark and Greenland, a semiautonomous part of the Danish realm, that gives the U.S. “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland.”U.S., Denmark reach deal to expand American military presence on Greenland, Trump saysIn an interview with Nuuk television station KNR, Greenland’s Foreign Minister, Múte Egede, said the territory’s 57,000 inhabitants will continue to determine their future. “The agreement reflects what we’ve said from the very beginning that Greenland’s position is recognized,” Mr. Egede said. “Greenland’s right to self-determination is recognized, and the Greenlandic people are recognized in accordance with international law, including international human rights law.”No details have been released and it’s unclear how far the agreement goes in satisfying the demands of Mr. Trump who has repeatedly threatened to annex Greenland and gain control over its minerals. At varying times Mr. Trump has offered to purchase the island or take it by force. Earlier this year he threatened to impose import tariffs on goods from the European Union and countries, including Canada, that opposed his ambitions. He later withdrew the threats of tariffs and ruled out an invasion but he has continued to push for annexation. As recently as July he told reporters during a NATO summit in Turkey that Greenland “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.” Who owns Greenland? All of us, and none of us, Inuit sayOfficials from Greenland, Denmark and the U.S. have been negotiating the terms of an agreement since January to address Mr. Trump’s demands. In his social media post on Friday, Mr. Trump said “the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.”He added that “from now on, no US adversary” will be able to set up a base in Greenland “or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.“The U.S. and Denmark already have a long-standing defence arrangement dating back to 1951 that allows Washington to send troops to Greenland, so long as it notifies its NATO ally. During the Cold War, the U.S. stationed around 10,000 troops at 17 bases in Greenland. That number has dwindled to less than 200 at one installation. Mr. Trump said the U.S. will “immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence” in Greenland. He did not spell out what kind of veto the U.S. would have over investments in Greenland.The government of Greenland has been eager to develop its natural resources as a way of diversifying the economy from an overreliance on fishing. But mineral extraction is expensive and only a handful of projects have gone forward. Nonetheless, Greenland’s trove of critical minerals has drawn interest from China as well as American, European, Australian, and Canadian companies. In recent years China also offered to build new airports in Greenland. That offer was rejected and Denmark covered the costs. Explainer: Why Trump wants to seize Greenland, and its history as a Danish territoryGiving the U.S. a veto power over investments would be extraordinary, said Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. “That in principle will be a limitation on Greenland’s right to determine its own future,” he said in a briefing to reporters on Saturday from Copenhagen. Many countries including Canada review sensitive investments and foreign takeovers for security concerns. Denmark has similar legislation and the Greenlandic government was developing its own safeguards. Mr. Trump has often singled out China as an adversary, but he has also been critical of the EU, Canada and other NATO allies. “If the U.S. can also veto European investments in Greenland that would be controversial,” said Dr. Pram Gad. He added that the final agreement may only give the U.S. and Denmark an advisory role. It could say that “formally, the decision to allow the investment rests in Nuuk. But what kind of decisions would Nuuk want to take if the memo from Langley is that you shouldn’t do this?” Dr. Pram Gad said referring to the headquarters of the CIA in Washington.Residents of Copenhagen welcomed news of a proposed deal between the United States, Denmark and Greenland on Saturday.The Associated PressIn a statement, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made no mention of a U.S. role in investments and said the agreement “strengthens our shared security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic region and is therefore also beneficial for NATO and Europe.” She also said that it “recognizes the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.”Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the deal “benefits not only our collective security, but also the continued development here in the country.”But there has been some caution expressed in Greenland. “I’m looking forward to the deal being finalized on the new agreement with the USA. And to seeing the content. Until then, I’m skeptical. I don’t have much confidence in Trump,” former Greenland MP Aaja Chemnitz wrote on Facebook. “It’s good that we respect our sovereignty and the right to self-determination, but it should be a given. Maybe I’m completely off - or what?”Mr. Trump along with Ms. Frederiksen and Mr. Nielsen are expected to sign the agreement this week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. A final deal would have to be ratified by the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments.