US President Donald Trump signed a security deal Tuesday with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark, cooling temperatures after his contentious calls to acquire the autonomous Danish territory.

“It’s going to be a long-term, fantastic relationship,” Trump said at a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

“This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody,” he added.

Under the 10-page pact, the United States will build two military bases in southern and eastern Greenland.

These will be established in Narsarsuaq in the south of the island and Mestersvig in the east, in addition to the Pituffik base it already operates in the north.

The deal also reaffirmed “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark” while recognizing Greenland’s “right to self-determination.”

Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Trump repeatedly insisted that the United States needed control over Greenland for security reasons, alarming NATO ally Denmark and sparking fierce pushback from the alliance.

Greenland, which lies on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States, represents a highly strategic location for Trump’s desired “Golden Dome” defense shield.

It also has untapped rare earth deposits and could be a critical player as melting polar ice opens up new shipping routes.