Greenland deal with the USA: relief for Mia Kemnitz, but skepticism remains

Greenlander Mia Kemnitz usually focuses on hats and other products made from Arctic musk ox wool, which she makes in her small shop in the capital Nuuk. But on Tuesday lunchtime Greenland time, the live images from New York were in the foreground for them.

“At first I didn’t want to believe that it was really happening and that we had a good deal,” said Kemnitz. As the day went on she became more and more restless until the agreement was signed. "I was really holding my breath."

Finally an agreement, the time of Donald Trump's threats to buy Greenland or take it over with military strength is over.

Former defense minister remembers negotiations

Troels Lund Poulsen was Danish Defense Minister until June. When the complex talks between Greenland, Denmark and the USA began in January, he was there from the start. "At the beginning of this round of negotiations, no one knew how it would end. It was clear that the negotiators on the American side would ultimately have to present the agreement to Donald Trump," he says.

And the US President signed at the end. According to the agreement, the US will expand its existing military base and build two additional military bases on the Arctic island. Investments from non-NATO states and non-EU states will only be possible to a limited extent in Greenland in the future.

Greenland's right to self-determination secured

But there is no longer any talk of a US takeover of Greenland. On the contrary: the new agreement guarantees the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen changed after the signing and appeared in New York in a festive Greenlandic anorak. "We are here with an agreement and I am happy with it. My red lines have not been crossed," he said.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also emphasized this point. She spoke of strengthening overall European and transatlantic security.

Skepticism still remains

The Danish diplomat and writer Bo Lidegaard has long been concerned with the security issue of Greenland. He was asked on Danish radio what consequences the deal will have for the almost 60,000 people who live on the world's largest island. "I don't think this will change the practical reality in Greenland. Apart from the enormous relief that the Greenlanders' right to self-determination has now also been confirmed by the USA with the President's signature."

The new agreement is forever, as Trump claimed. There is no expiry date and neither contracting party can terminate on its own.

And despite everything, skepticism remains. At least with Mia Kemnitz in her small shop in Nuuk. "Right now I only feel relief. I know that anything can happen if Trump starts tweeting something late at night again. But I know that the deal looks good and that Greenland and Denmark are both behind it. Everything else is out of our control."