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US to Open Two Military Bases in Greenland Under New Security Deal — AI-generated representative image: A remote Arctic airfield in southern Greenland, the type of location where a US military base is planned.

Editorial Team

Agreement with Denmark and Greenland to establish Arctic bases at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, set for signing at the UN General Assembly

The United States will open two military bases in Greenland as part of an agreement with Denmark and Greenland, according to Reuters. The deal is expected to be signed on Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, though its full text has not yet been officially published.

The agreement marks a resolution to a tense, months-long diplomatic standoff sparked by US President Donald Trump's repeated statements that Washington intended to annex the autonomous Danish territory. Greenland holds strategic value for its Arctic location and significant mineral resources, including rare-earth metals, and the deal now establishes a formal framework governing security arrangements on the island.

Key Terms of the Agreement

On Friday, President Trump claimed the US had reached a deal with Denmark granting it "permanent control" over Greenland's security "and all other needs." The agreement gives the US a veto preventing "adversaries" from establishing a military presence or making "sensitive investments" in Greenland without approval.

A US Department of State official cited by the BBC clarified that non-NATO states will be barred from setting up bases in Greenland and from "making investments in Greenland that could threaten the United States." Denmark and Greenland confirmed over the weekend that an agreement had been reached, while insisting it would not compromise Greenland's sovereignty.

Background of the Diplomatic Standoff

The deal follows a period of heightened tension that began last year when Trump refused to rule out a military invasion of Greenland, causing fear among Greenlanders, the majority of whom reject US control according to polls. Tensions peaked in January this year when European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) alliance began deploying additional troops to the island to demonstrate military readiness and deter Washington.

Following talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte, Trump backed down, stating he would not invade the island and would instead work toward a deal. He also withdrew his threat to impose 10 percent trade tariffs on eight European nations that had objected to US attempts to acquire Greenland.

Base Locations and Official Statements

The US will re-establish one Cold War-era military base in southern Greenland and set up another on the east coast. The first base will be located in Narsarsuaq, a settlement in southern Greenland whose population has dwindled to a few dozen people since the US closed its Bluie West One military base, also known as Narsarsuaq Air Base and Narsarsuaq Airport, in 1958.

The second base will be situated in Mestersvig, a military outpost in the northeast currently used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, a Danish special forces unit. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post that "the agreement recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination." Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described the deal as "a binding agreement that strengthens security in the Arctic and the north Atlantic."

Reactions and Next Steps

Russia has stated it was not involved in discussions, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters on Tuesday that "at present, the issue of cooperation in the Arctic is not on the agenda." China has not commented. A NATO spokesperson said the alliance supports the deal, stating it would "help advance security, stability and cooperation in this vital region." The agreement is set to be signed on Tuesday at the UNGA, after which its full text is expected to be made public.