The United States, Denmark, and Greenland have reached a new trilateral agreement to enhance security cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions. Signed during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the deal allows the U.S. to expand its military presence in Greenland, a strategic location between North America and Europe.
Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. will be able to establish new defense areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig and develop a “Golden Dome” missile defense system on the island. This move amends the 1951 U.S.-Denmark defense agreement, granting broader access for U.S. aircraft and vessels within Greenland’s territorial waters.
Importantly, the agreement does not transfer Greenland to U.S. control but prevents non-NATO countries from setting up military installations there. It also imposes restrictions on foreign investments in critical sectors, such as infrastructure and resource extraction, ensuring that Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial rights are maintained.
Approval through the relevant parliamentary procedures in Denmark and Greenland is required before the agreement can be fully enacted. This follows a series of tensions after former President Donald Trump proposed acquiring Greenland for its strategic importance, a move that was not pursued.
Currently, the U.S. operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. The new agreement signifies the most significant expansion of American military infrastructure on the island since the Cold War, highlighting the region’s growing geopolitical importance.