Frederiksen Says Greenland Deal Protects Denmark’s Sovereignty and ‘Red Lines’
COPENHAGEN, September 20, 2026 — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Sunday that the recently reached agreement between Denmark, Greenland and the United States respects Denmark’s key interests, including its sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
Speaking to Danish broadcaster TV 2, Frederiksen said protecting security in the Arctic while safeguarding the interests of Denmark and Greenland had been central to the negotiations.
She stressed that the Kingdom of Denmark remains a sovereign state and that Greenlanders’ right to determine their own future must continue to be respected. She also said the agreement protects the kingdom’s territorial integrity.
Frederiksen did not reveal specific details of the agreement, saying its contents would not be discussed publicly until the deal is formally signed. The agreement is expected to be signed in New York during the upcoming UN General Assembly.
Agreement focuses on Arctic security
The agreement was negotiated between Denmark, Greenland and the United States amid heightened attention to security in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Danish officials have said the deal is intended to strengthen regional security while respecting Denmark and Greenland’s core interests.
Frederiksen said she understood why Greenlanders were particularly interested in what the agreement would mean for them following a difficult period of uncertainty.
She added that neither she nor Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen would sign an agreement they believed was not beneficial to Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Frederiksen to meet Trump in New York
Frederiksen also confirmed that she will meet US President Donald Trump in New York when the agreement is due to be signed.
The Danish prime minister said she expects all parties to honor the agreement after what she described as a lengthy political and diplomatic process.
She also said the agreement could strengthen security from both a European and NATO perspective, particularly in the strategically important Arctic and North Atlantic regions.
The exact terms of the agreement have not yet been made public. Earlier reports said the deal would allow an expanded US military presence in Greenland while preventing rival powers from establishing military bases there.