US President Donald Trump, after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, spoke to CNBC about the "framework for a future agreement" for Greenland that has been formed, revealing that the US and its European allies will cooperate in the development of the "Golden Dome" anti-missile shield and in mineral extraction in Greenland.
Without giving specific details about the content of the agreement, the American president said that the ownership issue "is a little complicated," adding that explanations would be given "down the road." Elsewhere in his interview, he said that this is an agreement that will last "indefinitely," saying characteristically: "It's forever."
Cyprus – United Kingdom type plan
As reported by "The Telegraph", according to the draft agreement, the United States will control parts of Greenland by designating them as sovereign base areas, that is, as American territory in the Arctic region.
The framework, which, as the British newspaper comments, mimics Britain's agreement with Cyprus, will allay Denmark's fears that the US is preparing to annex the semi-autonomous region.
The Cyprus-UK-style plan is seen as a creative solution to Trump's demands for ownership of the island, which he considers strategically important to America's defense.
The terms of the UK's agreement with Cyprus grant Britain sovereignty over two military bases for strategic purposes, while also granting Cypriots in the areas rights similar to those in other areas of the state.
Under this model, the US would be able to develop and operate military infrastructure in Greenland and conduct intelligence and training operations, while also having unrestricted “freedom of movement” between designated defense areas, in the air, on land, and at sea.
In theory, the proposed new framework would allow the US to control some areas of Greenland that are potentially rich in minerals without having to seek permits. By extension, the proposal would also make it easier for the US to place assets in the area that belong to its future “Golden Dome.”
"Excellent deal"
NATO military leaders arrived in Davos this week with the aim of addressing the political tension of the rift between Europe and Washington.
In a post on Truth Social after his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the US president spoke of a “very productive meeting” and a “future agreement” that would be “great for the United States and all NATO member states” and “will guarantee the security of the Arctic.” He also said that the agreement would not impose new tariffs on European countries that had opposed his ambitions to annex the Arctic island.
He added that discussions are continuing on the "Golden Dome" defense system, emphasizing that Greenland will be of key importance for its development.
Earlier, during his speech before business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the US president said he was seeking "direct negotiations" for the acquisition of Greenland, assuring that he would "not use force" but insisting that control of it was necessary for national and international security.
"I seek immediate negotiations to renegotiate the acquisition of Greenland by the United States," he said, adding: "This would not pose a threat to NATO — on the contrary, it would significantly enhance the security of the entire Alliance."
"All we ask for is Greenland, full rights, title and ownership," Trump said.
Trump's withdrawal from his threats to use military force to acquire Greenland, threats that had caused unrest within NATO and brought the Alliance close to a serious cohesion crisis, may offer a first breath of relief to Washington's European allies, analysts note.
"A very productive meeting"
A NATO spokesman said Secretary General Rutte had a "very productive meeting" with President Trump, during which they discussed the critical importance of security in the Arctic region for all allies.
In an interview on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier," following his meeting with Donald Trump, the NATO Secretary General stated that the issue of whether Greenland would remain in Denmark was not raised in his conversation with the American president.
Rutte was sparing in details about the so-called "framework agreement" announced by Trump, while emphasizing that much work remains before a substantive agreement is reached.
"We have a good agreement to start working on these issues in practice," the NATO secretary general said, reiterating that the consultations are still at an early stage.
As he explained, the focus of the discussions was on what NATO can do collectively to ensure the security of the entire Arctic region.
Asked whether Greenland would remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark under the agreement, Rutte replied: "This issue was no longer raised in my talks with the president."
“He is very focused on what we need to do to ensure that this huge area of the Arctic, where changes are happening right now and where the Chinese and the Russians are increasingly active, is protected,” he added. “That was really the focus of our discussions.”
Source: skai.gr
