By Paul Joseph
The United States is set to build two new military bases in Greenland after Washington, Denmark and Greenland signed a new defence agreement allowing the US to establish additional military installations in the Arctic territory.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York by US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Under the deal, the US will establish new defence areas at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig in the eastern part of the territory.
The agreement also updates the 1951 defence arrangement between the United States and Denmark, while allowing Washington to modernise and expand its existing military activities at Pituffik Space Base in north-western Greenland.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Trump said the US would immediately begin the process of developing a larger military presence at strategically important locations.
“We’re going to have a tremendous relationship, a secure relationship,” Trump said, describing the agreement as significant for the United States, Europe and Greenland.
Frederiksen described the agreement as a milestone in the long-standing defence cooperation between the US and Denmark, stressing that it respects Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination.
Nielsen also welcomed the agreement, saying it takes into account the interests, rights and livelihoods of Greenland’s people.
The exact modalities and technical details of the proposed military bases are yet to be determined and must be mutually agreed upon by the three parties.
Narsarsuaq has deep-water access and a large runway, while Mestersvig is a remote and less-developed area currently used by a Danish naval dog-sled unit.
The agreement further provides that countries that are not members of NATO will not be allowed to establish manned or unmanned military installations or maintain a persistent military presence in Greenland.
The deal follows more than a year of tensions over Greenland after Trump repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring the strategically located Arctic territory, citing US national security concerns, its location and its mineral resources.
The new agreement, however, reaffirms Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while recognising Greenland’s right to self-determination.
It also confirms that Greenland would remain within NATO if it eventually becomes independent from Denmark.
The US already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at Pituffik Space Base, while the 1951 agreement permits Washington to deploy additional forces to Greenland.
Greenland has become increasingly important in Arctic security as major powers, including the US, Russia and China, compete over strategic access, defence and resources in the region.
The territory is also home to significant deposits of rare earth minerals used in technologies such as electric vehicles, mobile phones and other advanced electronic products.
NATO has welcomed the agreement, saying it would help promote security, stability and cooperation in the strategically important Arctic and North Atlantic regions.
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