The United States, Denmark and Greenland have signed a new defence agreement allowing Washington to establish two additional military facilities in Greenland while reaffirming Denmark’s sovereignty over the Arctic territory.
US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed the agreement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, bringing an apparent end to more than a year of tensions over the strategically located island.
Before the signing, Trump said the US would strengthen its military presence in Greenland, stating, “we will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations”.
Frederiksen described the agreement as “good for the US, Denmark and Greenland” as well as Europe and NATO, while Nielsen called it a “win-win-win”.
The agreement updates a 1951 defence pact between Denmark and the US and permits Washington to establish additional defence areas at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig in the east.
Narsarsuaq, which previously served as a civilian airport and a US base during World War II, has a large runway and access to deep water.
US military engineers have recently surveyed the site, according to the US North Command.
Mestersvig, meanwhile, is a remote and less-developed location currently used by a Danish naval dog-sled unit.
However, the agreement does not give Washington unrestricted control over the proposed facilities.
The technical arrangements and other details must be agreed upon by the US, Denmark and Greenland.
The pact also permits the US to modernise and expand its activities at Pituffik Space Base in north-western Greenland, where more than 100 American military personnel are already permanently stationed.
Importantly, the agreement does not transfer any Greenlandic territory to the US.
It explicitly recognises Denmark’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” and Greenland’s right to self-determination.
Trump had previously threatened to acquire or take control of Greenland, citing US national security interests, the island’s strategic position and its mineral resources.
His comments triggered strong reactions from Greenlanders, Danish officials and other European leaders, who warned that his rhetoric could damage transatlantic relations.
Under the new agreement, non-NATO countries will also be barred from establishing manned or unmanned military installations or maintaining a persistent military presence in Greenland.
The deal further states that Greenland would remain part of NATO if it eventually becomes independent from Denmark.
Trump said the agreement would create a stronger relationship, declaring, “We going to have a tremendous relationship, a secure relationship.”
“This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States, for everybody, and for Greenland it’s going to be incredible,” he added.
Frederiksen described the agreement as a “milestone in our long-standing co-operation”.
“Seventy-five years ago we entered into an agreement about the defence of Greenland. Today, we’re signing an even bigger and better agreement – a deal that can last forever,” she said.
The Danish prime minister stressed that the agreement “respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as Greenland’s right to self-determination”.
Nielsen said the agreement recognised Greenland’s involvement in decisions concerning its territory.
“For Greenland, it is not only an agreement about us, it is [an] agreement with us.
“It takes into account the people of Greenland, our rights, our livelihoods and the development of our country,” he said.
“Greenland matters for North American security and for transatlantic security,” Nielsen added, saying NATO had an important role in the North Atlantic amid changing security conditions.
The agreement still requires approval from the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments before it can take full effect.
NATO welcomed the pact, saying it would “help advance security, stability and cooperation in this vital region”.
The agreement comes after months of diplomatic tension over Greenland, which has a population of about 56,000 and remains a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
