Greenland's parliament ratifies the security deal with the U.S., opening the way to new American bases and Golden Dome

Greenland's parliament, the Inatsisartut, approved the security and defense agreement signed with the United States and Denmark in September, 16 votes to none with seven abstentions, AP, Al Arabiya and Denmark's DR report. Siumut sat out the vote because several members were away, but its chairman, Erik Jensen, told Sermitsiaq the party backs the deal "100 percent." The opposition Naleraq party criticized it for not including direct U.S. payments for defending the island.

The deal amends a 1951 defense agreement. It lets the U.S. set up new defense areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, expand Pituffik Space Base and build part of the "Golden Dome" missile defense shield there, while reaffirming Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders' right to self-determination, according to Berlingske, citing the Danish and Greenlandic governments. It bars investors from outside NATO and the EU from gaining "significant influence" in sensitive sectors, and has no end date.

Denmark's parliament still has to approve it, with a final vote expected Nov. 19. It does not need U.S. Senate approval.