The Donald Trump administration has reached an agreement with Greenland to allow U.S. expand their military presence and establish more bases in the autonomous Danish territory. 

Mr Trump announced the agreement on social media on Friday and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed it, adding that the deal would be formalised at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York next week.

“The United States will forever have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland,” Mr Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. “We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many. We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction.” 

“It is gratifying that we are about to enter into an agreement that ensures and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western alliance,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark said in a statement.

Greenland’s leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the deal “recognises Greenland’s interests and our place in international cooperation. This is to the benefit of us all.”

The deal will ensure that U.S. has permanent bases in the territory, a deal that stays binding even in the event yhe territory becomes an independent nation. 

The deal prohibits non-members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation such as China and Russia from establishing bases on the island.

Such countries are also banned from making any investment on the island that the U.S. might deem a security threat.

“Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defence area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.