President Trump announced an "Infinite Life" Agreement with Denmark and Greenland that grants the United States permanent access and operational control over Greenland’s security architecture. The September 18 deal is described as the most significant expansion of US military positioning in the Arctic since the Cold War. It updates the 1951 US-Denmark Defense of Greenland Agreement, last amended in 2004, and expands on the basing rights previously provided at Thule Air Base, now Pituffik Space Base. The accord bars non-NATO adversaries from establishing military bases or deploying personnel in Greenland and introduces screening of foreign investment in sensitive sectors, particularly critical minerals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a "historic deal" that carries zero cost for US taxpayers. A signing ceremony is scheduled for September 22-23 during the UN General Assembly. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement strengthens Arctic security within the NATO framework, while Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said it respects Danish sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination. The arrangement does not transfer territory to the United States, a distinction significant because of Trump’s earlier comments about acquiring Greenland, which triggered a diplomatic dispute during his first term. Greenland, whose population is 57,000, has moved toward greater autonomy from Denmark since obtaining self-government in 2009. The investment provisions target the possibility of Chinese-linked participation in Greenland’s critical-mineral projects. Greenland’s rare-earth deposits have been estimated to rank among the largest outside China, which dominates global production of those elements.