US and Denmark sign agreement expanding American military presence in Greenland
The US, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement on Tuesday allowing Washington to significantly expand its military presence on the Arctic island. The deal was published during the UN General Assembly following months of disputes.
The White House has released the text of an agreement on Greenland, signed on September 22 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, ending months of disputes over the Arctic island's future.
The document was signed by US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's head of government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Expanded US rights
The agreement allows Washington to modernize and expand operations at its Pituffik base, as well as create additional defense areas in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, with terms and technical details still to be negotiated. The parties may also agree to establish other American defense facilities in Greenland.
US military personnel will have the right to move freely between defense areas by land, sea and air. American aircraft will be able to fly over Greenlandic territory and land there, while US ships will be able to move through its territorial waters. The US will also be able to raise concerns about construction or repurposing of buildings near defense areas if this threatens their security.
The agreement states that these rights must be exercised in a way that respects, as far as possible, Greenlandic society and way of life, including hunting, fishing and other traditional activities. The parties will also cooperate on counter-espionage in Greenland.
NATO's role and restrictions on third countries
The deal strengthens NATO's role in the Arctic, including military planning, presence, exercises and shared intelligence gathering. Denmark also commits to continuing to strengthen its own military presence and capabilities in the region.
The agreement separately restricts the military and economic presence of third countries in Greenland. States outside NATO will be barred from establishing their own military facilities or maintaining a permanent military presence there without the parties' consent. Investors from countries that are not NATO members, NATO partners or EU members will face restrictions on control or significant influence in strategic sectors, including critical infrastructure and resource extraction.
The agreement is indefinite. Should Greenland gain independence, the new state would be required to remain in NATO and assume Denmark's rights and obligations under the deal. The US, Denmark and Greenland had already announced a breakthrough in the dispute on September 18.
