U.S. Signs Security Agreement with Denmark and Greenland...Expansion of U.S. Military Bases in Greenland

Denmark Breathes a Sigh of Relief over Fears of U.S. Annexation
Easing of Transatlantic Tensions Expected
Currently About 200 U.S. Troops Stationed – Bases to Be Expanded

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions. The agreement stipulates that Greenland will remain under Danish jurisdiction, while the United States will establish additional military bases and expand its military activities. This is seen as signaling a period of eased tensions between the U.S. and its European allies, which had been heightened since the start of Trump’s second administration.

From left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenlandic Premier Jens Frederik Nielsen are attending the signing ceremony of the security agreement among the United States, Denmark, and Greenland held on the 22nd (local time) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to the White House, President Trump signed the agreement on the 22nd (local time) in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen. The core of the agreement is the expansion of the U.S. military footprint in Greenland.

The United States will modernize and expand the existing Pituffik Space Base in the northwest. In addition, the agreement allows for the establishment of new defense zones in Narsarsuaq in the south and Mestersvig in the east. If necessary, further military facilities may also be constructed. Currently, there are about 200 U.S. troops stationed in Greenland. In 1945, several thousand troops were stationed at 17 bases and facilities, but this presence has been drastically reduced since then.

The agreement allows U.S. forces broad freedom of movement within Greenland’s territory, including access to underwater areas. It also stipulates that Greenland may be utilized for the defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Greenland, and the U.S. mainland, including for the U.S. missile defense system known as ‘Golden Dome.’ However, the specifics of how the Golden Dome would be deployed have not yet been finalized.

There are also provisions to deter military expansion by China and Russia. Unless specifically agreed otherwise by the signatories, non-NATO states are prohibited from establishing manned or unmanned military facilities or permanently stationing troops in Greenland.

U.S. President Donald Trump (center) is exchanging greetings at the signing ceremony of the security agreement between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. Photo by AP Yonhap News

This agreement is open-ended and does not specify an expiration date. Notably, the agreement will remain in force even if Greenland gains independence from Denmark in the future. An independent Greenland would remain in NATO and inherit Denmark’s rights and obligations under this agreement.

Prior to the signing, President Trump said in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, “We will immediately begin the process of establishing a substantial military presence in the appropriate regions,” and implied that “two very large military bases” would be constructed.

The governments of Denmark and Greenland assessed the agreement positively. Prime Minister Frederiksen remarked that it is “an agreement that can last forever,” and said, “The Kingdom of Denmark is in a better position today than it was yesterday.” Greenlandic Prime Minister Nielsen described it as a “win-win-win agreement,” adding, “America’s security is our security, and our security is America’s security.”

This agreement is also expected to reduce strains in transatlantic relations. Since 2019, during his first term, President Trump had expressed a strong interest in securing Greenland, which is seen as strategically important and rich in mineral resources. In his second term, he has persisted in emphasizing that the U.S. “must have” Greenland to counter Russian and Chinese interests in the Arctic. Even on this day, President Trump did not answer a question about whether the possibility of incorporating Greenland into the United States has been completely taken off the table.

However, as pointed out by AP News, it is expected to take time for the trust undermined by Trump’s pressures to annex Greenland to be fully restored. Greenlandic representatives have said that the local population has faced anxiety about losing their nation and livelihoods. At the same time, observers noted that the fact that Greenland signed this agreement as an independent party carries significant meaning for its autonomy.

Greenland’s strategic value is rapidly rising amidst the U.S.-China-Russia competition in the Arctic. About two-thirds of its territory lies within the Arctic Circle, and as sea ice melts, new Arctic routes are emerging. The island is also rich in mineral resources, such as rare earth elements.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.