Greenland's parliament approves the defence agreement with the US and Denmark, with Denmark's parliament to vote on 19 November

Greenland's parliament has approved the defence agreement that Greenland, Denmark and the United States signed in New York on 22 September. This report draws on Sermitsiaq, DR and Ritzau (in copy published by Berlingske). Danish quotations have been translated by Scopa's Realm. ## The vote Inatsisartut passed the agreement at its second reading on Tuesday afternoon, local time, with 16 votes for, none against and seven blank, Sermitsiaq, DR and Ritzau report. The governing parties Inuit Ataqatigiit, Demokraatit and Atassut and one independent member voted for it, according to Sermitsiaq. Siumut did not take part in the vote under an arrangement with the parliament's presidium because some of its members were away, but a Siumut member told Sermitsiaq the party backs the agreement "100 procent". DR reports that the opposition party Naleraq voted blank. "I am glad. I am relieved. It has been a long road," foreign affairs minister Múte B. Egede told DR. The session was heated: Egede accused Naleraq of leaking confidential information about the agreement, the parliament filed a police report against the party, and a Naleraq motion of no confidence in Egede failed, Ritzau reports. ## Next steps The agreement builds on a 1951 defence agreement and allows the US to set up two more military bases in Greenland, Ritzau reports. The Folketing will begin handling it on 12 November and is expected to finish on 19 November, DR reports. The agreement takes effect once the US is notified that both parliaments have approved it.