US President Donald Trump, alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, signed an agreement on September 22 that will expand the US military presence in Greenland. This development aims to address a standoff regarding the strategically significant and resource-rich island, as reported by ARN News Centre.
The agreement was formalised during Trump’s attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York. While it does not fulfil Trump’s earlier proposal to make Greenland a US territory, it allows for a greater military presence on the island, responding to concerns from Greenland’s leaders about a complete US takeover.
In his address to world leaders prior to the signing, Trump asserted that the agreement grants the US “permanent control over security and all other needs on that territory.” He further stated that no adversary would be allowed to establish a military presence in Greenland without US approval.
Frederiksen described the agreement as a long-lasting arrangement that reinforces the NATO alliance while respecting Greenland’s right to self-determination. Nielsen highlighted NATO’s crucial role in maintaining security in the Arctic region.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, is strategically located between the Arctic and North America and is rich in energy resources. The US currently operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland.
The new agreement is expected to facilitate the establishment of two military sites: Narsarsuaq, a former Cold War airbase, and Mestersvig, which is currently used by a Danish special forces unit. Trump indicated that the US would begin developing a significant military presence in these locations.
This agreement marks a notable shift from Trump’s previous ambitions to acquire Greenland outright, which had sparked a diplomatic crisis within NATO earlier this year. The deal amends a 1951 defence treaty that has historically governed the US presence in Greenland.
Frederiksen noted that the agreement is beneficial from multiple perspectives, including those of Greenland, the US, and Europe, framing it as a matter of security policy. This expansion of US military infrastructure on the island represents the first major increase since the Cold War, when the US maintained numerous installations and personnel there.
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