In a stunning development, the United States is set to control parts of Greenland by designating them as sovereign base areas under the terms of a proposed deal agreed in Davos. The draft framework, which mimics Britain’s agreement with Cyprus, would see American bases considered as US territory in the Arctic region, The Telegraph reports.
The framework, agreed between Donald Trump and Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general on Wednesday evening, will ease Danish fears that the US is preparing to annex the semi-autonomous region. Mr Trump declined in a series of interviews to explain the terms of the deal but admitted the issue of ownership was a “little complex.”
Under the proposed deal, the US would be allowed to perform military operations, intelligence, and training, while also facilitating some local development, including potentially mining for rare earth minerals, without seeking permission from Denmark. A diplomatic source told The Telegraph: “The idea was to give Trump a deal.”
Cyprus-UK style plan seen as creative work-around to Trump’s demands
The Cyprus-UK style plan is seen as a creative work-around to Mr Trump’s demands for ownership of the island, which he views as being strategically important to America’s defence. The terms of the UK’s agreement with Cyprus grants Britain sovereignty over two military bases for strategic purposes while allowing Cypriots within the areas rights similar to elsewhere in the Republic.
US already permitted to build and operate military bases in Greenland
The US is already permitted to build and operate military bases in Greenland while having unrestricted “freedom of operation” between designated defence areas, including air, land, and sea.
In theory, the proposed new framework would allow the US to control parts of Greenland and potentially expand to mineral-rich areas which are coveted by Mr Trump.
The proposal would also make it easier for the US to position assets belonging to its prospective Golden Dome there. Sources told The Telegraph that during their meeting with Mr Trump, Nato negotiators criticised Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and his “bazooka” language, in order to curry favour with the mercurial president.
Trump hails deal as “fantastic” for USA
Mr Macron is among those most fiercely opposed to Mr Trump’s Greenland takeover threats and has argued for the use of the EU’s “bazooka” – blocking US companies from the continent’s internal market.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the president said:
“It’s a deal that people jumped at, really fantastic for the USA, gets everything we wanted, including especially real national security and international security.”
