Trump pushes for Greenland framework agreement implementation, Denmark signals negotiations on "Golden Dome" missile defense plan

On January 22, U.S. President Trump quickly drew international attention with the “Greenland Framework Agreement” announced during the World Economic Forum in Davos. The agreement is seen as a significant shift in Washington’s Arctic policy, with core elements including joint rights with European allies to develop Greenland’s mineral resources and collaboration on the “Golden Dome” missile defense plan. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen later stated that Copenhagen is open to negotiations with the U.S. on the plan but emphasized that any cooperation must be based on respecting Denmark’s territorial integrity.

Frederiksen said in a statement that it is “reasonable and natural” for Trump to discuss Arctic security with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Switzerland. She pointed out that Denmark is willing to engage in dialogue on security, investment, and economic issues but will not compromise on sovereignty. Previously, Trump publicly expressed interest in Greenland and did not rule out tough options. The proposal of the “Framework Agreement” has been interpreted by external observers as a more pragmatic stance.

The so-called “Golden Dome” missile defense system was launched by the Trump administration in May 2025. It is compared to Israel’s “Iron Dome,” aiming to build a multi-layer interception network covering the entire U.S. to counter threats from ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons. The project has a budget of billions of dollars and is seen as a key investment in the U.S. global security architecture. Trump stated in an interview with Joe Kernen that the cooperation would be “long-term and stable.”

With Denmark expressing willingness to negotiate, the strategic importance of the Arctic region has been amplified again. Greenland not only possesses rare earths and critical mineral resources but also serves as an important frontier connecting North America and Europe. For the U.S., linking the defense system with resource cooperation helps strengthen alliances and reinforce its presence in the Arctic; for Denmark, maintaining sovereignty while introducing security and capital also enhances regional defense capabilities.

Trump later announced on Truth Social that he would suspend tariffs on some European countries to facilitate ongoing negotiations. The market responded quickly, with risk assets strengthening as investors bet that transatlantic relations would ease in the short term. As more details are revealed, the linkage between Greenland and the “Golden Dome” plan will continue to influence global geopolitical and security dynamics.