NEW YORK — The United States, Denmark and Greenland have signed a new defence agreement allowing Washington to establish two additional military bases in Greenland, marking a significant expansion of the US military presence in the strategically important Arctic territory.
The agreement was signed during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, following months of diplomatic tension over US President Donald Trump’s push for greater American control over Greenland.
The deal, however, reaffirms Danish sovereignty over the semi-autonomous territory and recognises Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
Under the agreement, the United States will be permitted to establish additional defence areas at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig in the east. Technical arrangements for the new facilities will still require agreement among the parties.
Speaking ahead of the signing, Trump said the United States would immediately begin developing a larger military presence at suitable locations in Greenland.
The agreement also prohibits countries outside NATO from establishing military installations in Greenland or maintaining a persistent military presence there.
The provision reflects growing Western concern about Russian and Chinese strategic activity and investment in the Arctic.
Despite the expanded US military role, the agreement does not transfer Greenlandic territory to the United States. It explicitly recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark as well as Greenland’s right to determine its own future.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomed the agreement, saying it would benefit the United States, Denmark and Greenland while also strengthening European and NATO security.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also welcomed the accord, stressing that Greenland was a participant in the agreement rather than merely its subject.
He said the arrangement takes account of Greenlanders, their rights, livelihoods and the territory’s development.
NATO has welcomed the deal, saying it would contribute to greater security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic, which has become increasingly important to the alliance amid heightened geopolitical competition.
The new arrangement updates the longstanding defence framework between the United States and Denmark dating back to 1951. The US already operates Pituffik Space Base in north-western Greenland, where more than 100 American military personnel are permanently stationed.
The installation plays an important role in missile warning and space surveillance.
Greenland occupies a strategically important position between North America and Europe and lies along potential routes for missiles travelling between Russia and the United States. The vast Arctic island also holds substantial deposits of rare-earth minerals that are important for advanced technologies.
The agreement follows a prolonged dispute after Trump repeatedly argued that Greenland was vital to US national security and sought greater American control over the territory. His earlier statements generated strong opposition in Greenland and Denmark and concern among NATO allies.
The signing appears to shift the dispute away from territorial ownership towards expanded defence cooperation, while leaving Greenland under Danish sovereignty and preserving its right to self-determination.
