Trump's massive Greenland deal makes clear who controls the Arctic's strategic future

Call it a win-win for Denmark and President Donald Trump. "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. Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval," he posted on Friday.

Then China's President Xi Jinping started pouring money into Arctic nations when he took over in 2012. Greenland was a prime target. The Greenland Self-Governance Act of 2009 provided no real barrier to Chinese investment in critical infrastructure. By 2017, the amount of Chinese foreign direct investment totaled hundreds of millions of dollars - equating to roughly 11% of Greenland's gross domestic product. By comparison, Chinese investment in Canada constituted only 2.4% of GDP. China also tried to expand its footprint in Greenland by bidding on construction contracts to expand its airports, a move Denmark ultimately blocked.

Times have changed. And Trump is on it.

Greenland is a "highly strategic parcel of land," as Trump phrased it. Back in January at Davos, he called Greenland an "enormous unsecured island" and a "core national security interest of the United States of America."

Looking down from your globe, you see the major land masses guarding America are Alaska, Canada and Greenland.

Trump's agreement ensures China cannot install installations in Greenland to threaten these vital missions. Ever.

Greenland is basic to American security. You can't have it dominated by Chinese money.

Not everybody sees it that way. Who can forget the outcry last winter when Trump proposed simply purchasing Greenland? NATO nations got their knickers in a twist. Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom sent troops along to a joint exercise with Denmark to show resolve. Trump threatened to tariff them. You'd have thought the world was ending.

Of course, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called this one right from the start. "The European leaders will come around. And they will understand that they need to be under the U.S. security umbrella," Bessent told NBC News on Jan. 18.

"For over 100 years, Presidents have known the strategic importance of Greenland, but NONE of them were able to do anything about it," Trump ballyhooed.

Is Cuba next?