Trump’s Deal With Denmark—and What It Means for Greenland’s Sovereignty

Speaking at the signing, Nielsen insisted: “NATO matters. We believe that it is vital to keep NATO strong, also in the Arctic, where the alliance has a key role to play.”

“The Arctic and the North Atlantic are essential for our collective security, and this agreement will help advance security, stability, and cooperation in this vital region,” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart told TIME.

No state that is not a member of NATO will be allowed to establish its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland, per the agreement text, nor shall they be allowed a persistent presence of military forces in Greenland, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

“I do not see much changing for NATO with this deal,” says Taussig. “This is a good news story for the alliance—the fact that we now have a deal that takes away the political irritant [of annexation threats].”

NATO has bolstered its posture in the Arctic this year, with the launch of the Arctic Sentry in February, bringing military drills, surveillance, and presence in the region under one command.