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UNITED NATIONS — <\/span>The security agreement signed by the U.S., Denmark and Greenland last week \u201cstrengthens the defense of Greenland, the NATO area, and the American continent,\u201d Denmark\u2019s U.N. ambassador told the U.N.\u2019s annual gathering of world leaders Monday.<\/p>\n “The agreement is good for Greenland, for Denmark, for the United States, for NATO and Europe, and for international peace and security,\u201d Christina Lassen said.<\/p>\n The agreement bolstering the U.S. military presence in Greenland is aimed at strengthening NATO\u2019s security in the Arctic and North Atlantic. It keeps Greenland as part of Denmark and, at least for the moment, eases tensions over President Donald Trump\u2019s repeated calls for the vast island to become part of the United States. The agreement would still apply if Greenland eventually chooses independence.<\/p>\n In brief remarks on the agreement at the end of her speech, Lassen said, \u201cProgress can still be made when we consult the compass.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump expressed his desire to acquire Greenland as long ago as 2019<\/a> and, during his current second term, he issued threats to seize the semiautonomous territory<\/a> from Denmark, a NATO ally. He said the U.S. needed to \u201ctake Greenland,\u201d to prevent Russia or China from doing the same<\/a>, but said he would rather make a deal<\/a> \u201d for the mineral-rich territory.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s designs on Greenland strained relations within NATO, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of the Atlantic alliance<\/a>. It also unsettled many of Greenland\u2019s roughly 56,000 people wary of a U.S. takeover and resource grab.<\/p>\n Officials from the U.S., Greenland and Denmark negotiated for months behind the scenes, searching for solutions to address some of Trump\u2019s security concerns about the island and the president gave a thumbs up to the deal..<\/p>\n