US and Denmark strike deal to build two new military bases in Greenland
The US, Denmark and Greenland have signed a new defence agreement allowing Washington to build two additional military bases on the Arctic island, while reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the territory.
Deal signed at the UN General Assembly
In New York, ahead of the UN General Assembly session, US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed a new defence pact updating the 1951 agreement between the US and Denmark. The deal allows the US to establish two new bases — at Narsarsuaq in the south and Mestersvig in the east — and to "modernise and expand" its existing Pituffik Space Base in the north-west.
Context: months of tension
The agreement follows more than a year of friction after Trump repeatedly suggested the US could "take" the semi-autonomous Arctic territory, citing national security concerns, its strategic location and mineral wealth. The rhetoric drew criticism from Greenlanders, Danes and European leaders, who issued a joint statement warning it risked "undermining transatlantic relations" and a "dangerous downward spiral".
Sovereignty remains with Denmark
Crucially, the deal transfers no territory to the US. It recognises both Denmark's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" and Greenland's right to self-determination, and specifies that Greenland would remain a NATO member even if it were to become independent from Denmark. The pact also bars any non-NATO country from establishing military installations or maintaining a persistent troop presence in Greenland.
Parliamentary approval still needed
Technical details of the new bases must still be agreed by all parties, and the deal requires ratification by both the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments. Frederiksen called the signing a "milestone" in long-standing cooperation, while Nielsen described it as a "win-win-win" for all sides. Trump said the US would "immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations", predicting an "incredible" future for Greenland. NATO welcomed the agreement, saying it would help advance security and stability in the region. As the BBC reports, the US already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at Pituffik.
