US gains two new military sites in Greenland under deal with Denmark
The United States will be able to establish two new military sites in Greenland and expand its presence on the Arctic island under a security agreement signed with Denmark and Greenland on Tuesday.
The deal, signed by US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, allows the US to develop military sites at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig while expanding operations at the existing Pituffik Space Base.
Washington could seek additional bases in the future by mutual agreement. US aircraft and vessels will also receive broad access across Greenland and its territorial waters.
The agreement allows the US to establish elements of its Golden Dome missile defense system in Greenland as protection against ballistic missile threats.
The deal does not transfer Greenland to the United States. The island remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, while the agreement recognizes Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
It also restricts investment from countries outside NATO, NATO partner states and the European Union, preventing them from gaining control or significant influence in sensitive sectors including critical infrastructure and resource extraction.
The agreement has no end date but still requires approval by the parliaments of Denmark and Greenland. It represents the first major expansion of US military infrastructure in Greenland since the Cold War.
The deal follows months of tensions after Trump repeatedly pushed for US control of Greenland and declined to rule out military or economic pressure to acquire the island.
- Share: