Trump backs off Greenland annexation, formalizes deal to expand US presence

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump will formalize a new security agreement with Greenland that expands the United States' military presence on the island, without it becoming an American territory, during a Tuesday signing ceremony in New York, on the sidelines of a visit to the United Nations.

A White House official said Trump would meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and all three leaders would sign the deal that the U.S. has promoted as a solution for Trump's desire to annex the independently-governed territory that's officially part of Denmark.

Trump said last week in a social media post that the deal "explicitly guarantees the United States the complete ability to do what it deems is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the American continent," including permanent access, basing, and unrestricted use of the Arctic territory's airspace.

"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," Trump wrote.

The deal also prohibits American adversaries from having a military presence on or making investments…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/