Carney, other Western leaders pleased with deal between U.S., Denmark and Greenland

Open this photo in gallery:A sign reading 'Greenland is not for sale!' in Nuuk, Greenland, on Saturday. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have insisted that the agreement recognizes the kingdom’s 'sovereignty' and 'the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.'Tim Barsoe/ReutersPrime Minister Mark Carney and European leaders have welcomed the agreement reached between the United States, Denmark and Greenland, saying it will increase security in the Arctic and protect the self-determination of the Greenlandic people. U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he’d reached a deal with Denmark and Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of the Danish realm, that gives the U.S. “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland.”During a weekend visit to the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, French President Emmanuel Macron called the agreement “a good thing.” “I simply note that Danish sovereignty is respected, that international law is respected, and that this is exactly what we asked for,” Mr. Macron said before a meeting with Mr. Carney on the islands, a self-governing territory of France.Mr. Trump has long coveted Greenland’s mineral wealth and has repeatedly said he wanted to buy the Arctic territory, which has been under Danish control for centuries. Canada and European leaders rallied around Denmark and Greenland in January when Mr. Trump raised the possibility of using military force to take Greenland, an extraordinary threat against a NATO ally. U.S., Denmark reach deal to expand American military presence on Greenland, Trump saysNo details of the agreement have been released, and it’s unclear how far it goes in satisfying Mr. Trump’s demands.In his social media post Friday, he said “the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.”He added that “from now on, no US adversary” will be able to set up a base in Greenland “or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.“The U.S. and Denmark already have a defence arrangement dating back to 1951 that allows Washington to send any number of troops to Greenland so long as it notifies its NATO ally. During the Cold War, the U.S. stationed some 10,000 troops at 17 bases on Greenland. That number has dwindled to less than 200 at one installation. Mr. Trump said Friday that the U.S. will “immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence” on the island. He also suggested the agreement would have no end date, unlike the 1951 accord, which was to remain in force as long as the NATO treaty.Greenland’s inhabitants will determine future of territory, Foreign Minister says after proposed U.S. dealThe U.S. President did not spell out what kind of veto the U.S. would have over investments in Greenland. The government of Greenland has been eager to develop its natural resources as a way of diversifying its economy away from an overreliance on fishing. But mineral extraction is expensive, and only a handful of projects have gone forward. Nonetheless, Greenland’s trove of critical minerals has drawn interest from China as well as American, European, Australian and Canadian companies. In recent years, China has offered to build new airports in Greenland, but the offer was rejected, and Denmark covered the costs. Giving the U.S. a veto over investments could be controversial, said Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. “That in principle will be a limitation on Greenland’s right to determine its own future,” he said in a briefing to reporters Saturday from Copenhagen. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have insisted that the agreement recognizes the kingdom’s “sovereignty” and “the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.”European leaders rally behind Greenland in face of renewed interest by TrumpGreenland MP Aqqalu Jerimiassen, whose party is part of the ruling coalition in Nuuk, said he has reviewed the agreement. In an interview, Mr. Jerimiassen would not disclose the contents but said, “I’m very satisfied about it.” Many details still need to be negotiated, but much of the agreement builds on the 1951 treaty, he said. Still, “we never know how Trump is going to react from second to second,” he cautioned.Based on what he has seen, Mr. Jerimiassen is confident Greenlanders can finally breathe a sigh of relief. “It’s amazing that finally things are more settled right now. I think it’s a huge victory for everyone.”One bonus of Mr. Trump’s outbursts has been a greater recognition of Greenland by Danes. For decades Greenlanders, who share ancestors with Canadian Inuit, have felt ignored by Copenhagen and damaged by the fallout from colonialism. But the standoff with Mr. Trump has heightened awareness of the island and its needs. “They try to clean up their relationship with us, and they are pumping out with the money right now, with every kind of deal between the government of Denmark and our government,” Mr. Jerimiassen said.Many people in Nuuk were just hoping the agreement would finally give them some peace of mind. “It is a relief,” said Jan Kohler, who organized a rally against Mr. Trump in Nuuk last January that drew 5,000 people, roughly one-quarter of the city’s population. Mr. Kohler expressed some concern about the details of the deal but added: “I choose to look positive at the whole situation. Denmark and Greenland have a much better relationship than before, and a lot more people know where Greenland is now.”