Newsweek is reporting that President Donald Trump's new agreement over Greenland came at the cost of straining America's longstanding European alliances, deepening distrust of the United States and threatening to pull NATO apart. It said the deal reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and recognizes Greenlanders' right to self-determination, but then sets out ways the United States will effectively limit Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty.
Newsweek said the agreement is with Greenland as well as Denmark, meaning Greenland would remain bound by its terms even if it becomes independent, and that the pact is indefinite rather than tied to the duration of the North Atlantic Treaty as the 1951 agreement was. It said the deal allows the United States to establish a new defense area now and others in the future, includes specific mention of the Golden Dome missile defense system, and bars non-NATO states from establishing a military presence, giving Washington a veto over that. Newsweek said the agreement effectively does the same for foreign investment in sensitive areas at a time when both China and Russia are strengthening their presence in the Arctic.
Newsweek said the deal looks good for Trump and reinforces what it called a doctrine of domination over the Americas, but that damage to the North Atlantic alliance may not be irreparable. It said the dispute has been another wake-up call for European countries to do more for themselves and the alliance, and that the fact it was settled amicably could even be positive. It said Danish and other European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have hailed the deal.
Separately, Newsweek is reporting that things are looking up for China and its leader, Xi Jinping, who heads to the United States confident that Trump will give him what he needs to secure another term as his country's most powerful political figure in a generation in about 12 months' time. It said Xi is due in Washington on September 24 to meet Trump at the White House, with the summit expected to address trade, technology and geopolitical tensions.
Newsweek also reported that Ireland is under growing pressure to boycott its soccer games with Israel, with protests piling pressure on players and officials to abandon the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. It said the Football Association of Ireland will not facilitate tickets for Irish supporters at either match, citing operational challenges and safety and security concerns.