Historic U.S.–Danish Security Pact Establishes Two New Military Bases in Greenland

At the signing ceremony, former President Trump said, “We are going to have a tremendous and secure relationship.”

He added that the agreement would benefit Europe, the United States, and all partners, calling it transformative for Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen described the signing as a milestone in our long‑standing cooperation.

“Seventy‑five years ago we entered into a defence agreement for Greenland. Today we are signing an even broader and more durable accord that can endure indefinitely,” she said.

She emphasized that the agreement respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark while upholding Greenland’s right to self‑determination.

Jens‑Frederik Nielsen observed that “for Greenland, this is not merely an agreement about us, but an agreement with us.”

He continued, “It takes into account the people of Greenland, our rights, our livelihoods, and the development of our country.”

“Greenland is vital to North American and transatlantic security,” he said, noting NATO’s crucial role in the North Atlantic amid a shifting security landscape.

The accord also confirms that Greenland would remain a NATO member should it achieve independence from Denmark.

The 1951 treaty already permitted the United States to deploy any number of troops to Greenland. Washington currently maintains a permanent presence of over 100 military personnel at its Pituffik base.

Former President Trump had spent months attempting to purchase or annex Greenland, citing its vulnerability to adversaries such as Russia and China.

He contended that the Arctic island was a key component of his proposed futuristic “Golden Dome” defence system intended to shield the United States from missile attacks.

Nevertheless, the agreement references the project only once and contains no concrete proposal.

The island possesses vast, largely untapped reserves of rare‑earth minerals, many of which are essential for technologies such as mobile phones and electric vehicles.

Trump said last week that the new agreement would incur “no cost to the United States.”

A NATO spokesperson later stated that the alliance welcomes the deal, which will help advance security, stability, and cooperation in this vital region.

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