Greenland’s parliament (Inatsisartut) has approved the defence agreement with the USA and Denmark, moving the September accord closer to taking effect. Lawmakers voted 16 in favour, none against and seven abstentions on Tuesday, 3 November, after a dispute that temporarily disrupted the sitting, Danish broadcaster DR reported.
The agreement was signed in New York on 22 September. It still requires approval by the Danish parliament (Folketing), which is scheduled to hold its first debate on 12 November and a final debate on 19 November, according to the official parliamentary timetable. It will enter into force after the USA has been formally notified that the necessary approvals are complete.
Allegations against Naleraq interrupted the debate
Before the vote, Greenlandic foreign affairs minister Múte B. Egede accused the opposition party Naleraq of disclosing confidential information from a closed meeting of the parliamentary foreign and security policy committee. The party disputed the allegation, KNR reported.
The presidium of Inatsisartut referred the allegation to police. Naleraq then submitted a motion of no confidence in Egede, objecting to his remarks about trust between the government and parliament.
Beyond the confidentiality dispute, Naleraq has criticised the deal for failing to secure sufficient financial and environmental benefits for Greenland. It had also sought a referendum on the agreement, according to Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq.
Following the vote, DR quoted Egede as saying:
“I am happy. I am relieved. It has been a long road.”
What the defence agreement with the USA changes
The new agreement updates the defence framework originally established in 1951. It allows the USA to expand military activities at Pituffik Space Base and provides for new defence areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, with technical arrangements still to be agreed between the parties.
It also reaffirms Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. As NordiskPost explained when the accord was signed, the USA gains wider military access, but the agreement does not transfer ownership of Greenland.
The deal has no fixed end date and includes provisions for its continuation if Greenland becomes independent. Washington is treating it as an executive agreement rather than a treaty requiring Senate approval, DR reported. With Greenland’s parliamentary approval secured, the next decisive step is in Copenhagen.
