The United States is set to expand its military presence in Greenland as Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk prepare to sign a new security agreement that would reportedly establish two additional U.S. military sites on the island.
US Expands Greenland Military Presence
On Tuesday, Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. are expected to sign the security agreement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, reported Reuters.
The U.S. plans to re-establish a military base at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland, the former site of the American Bluie West One base, and set up another military presence at Mestersvig on Greenland’s east coast, according to people familiar with the agreement.
Denmark’s Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, a special forces unit that operates across Greenland’s remote Arctic territory, currently uses Mestersvig.
The agreement has not been publicly released, and its details could change before it is signed.
Trump Greenland Pressure
A White House spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics but said the agreement would “secure and defend the security of Greenland and the United States.”
Denmark said the agreement would place Arctic security under the broader responsibility of NATO rather than leaving it solely to the U.S. and Denmark.
White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
NATO’s Arctic Role
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the arrangement would ensure Arctic security was not handled solely by Denmark or the United States.
The agreement “will be in a form where responsibility for security in the Arctic is not only Danish or American,” Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster TV2 on Sunday.
He added that “it would be NATO that looks after the Arctic.”
Trump’s Greenland Security Push
Last week, President Donald Trump said the U.S. reached a new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would give Washington a permanent security role and expand its military presence.
He said the deal gave the U.S. “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland.”
Denmark and Greenland said the deal preserved their sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. The U.S. already maintained a military presence at Pituffik Space Base.
Previously, Trump had renewed his push for Greenland at a NATO summit in Ankara, saying, “We took Greenland and then, stupidly, we gave it back.”
He argued the U.S. needed the island for security. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected the push, saying, “Greenland is, of course, not for sale.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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