The US, Denmark and Greenl and have signed a defence deal that allows Washington to build two new military bases in the Arctic territory, while reaffirming Copenhagen's sovereignty over it. The three leaders then inked the deal, seemingly ending more than a year of tension over the Arctic territory.

Trump had threatened to "take" the semi-autonomous Arctic territory over what he said were national security concerns, citing its strategic defence location and its mineral wealth. His rhetoric prompted outcry from Greenlanders, Danes and European leaders who issued a joint statement saying his words "undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral".

The new agreement says the US "shall be allowed to establish an additional Defence Area at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig" - referring to locations in Greenl and's south and east. Narsarsuaq has deep-water access and a large runway which US military engineers were surveying last week, according to Danish media.

The Mestersvig outpost is remote, far less developed, and used by a Danish naval dog sled unit. The "modalities and technical details" of the bases are yet to be confirmed, and according to the deal, must be mutually agreed by all parties.

Washington currently operates its Pituffik Space Base in Greenl and's north-west, and the new deal allows the US to "modernise and expand its activities" there. "" This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States, for everybody, and for Greenl and it's going to be incredible."

Meanwhile, Frederiksen described the signing of the deal as a "milestone in our long-standing co-operation". " Seventy-five years ago we entered into an agreement about the defence of Greenl and.

Today, we're signing an even bigger and better agreement - a deal that can last forever." Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that "for Greenl and, it is not only an agreement about us, it is [an] agreement with us."

It takes into account the people of Greenl and, our rights, our livelihoods and the development of our country." Greenl and matters for North American security and for transatlantic security," he said, adding that the Nato had a key role to play in the North Atlantic in a changing security situation.

The agreement also confirmed Greenl and would remain in Nato if it were to gain independence from Denmark. The 1951 agreement already allowed the US to send as many troops as it wanted to Greenl and.