The Trump administration has been holding secret meetings in Washington over the past four months with representatives from Greenland and Denmark to discuss expanding US control over the Arctic island. The talks, revealed by a New York Times investigation, aim to revise a 1951 defense agreement to allow indefinite US military presence in Greenland, even if it becomes independent. The United States is also seeking veto power over major investment deals to block Russian and Chinese influence, and joint access to Greenland’s oil, uranium, and rare earth resources.

Greenlandic leaders have expressed deep concern that these demands threaten their sovereignty. They fear that once tensions with Iran ease, President Trump may again focus on asserting dominance over Greenland. Danish and Greenlandic officials have strongly opposed the proposed “forever clause” and veto powers, viewing them as attempts to bind the island’s autonomy for generations.

Pentagon officials argue that melting Arctic ice is opening new strategic routes, requiring expanded radar and military bases across Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. However, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen insists environmental rules will remain strict and that decisions about business and sovereignty must rest with Greenland itself.