Menu

Search

  |   Politics

Menu

  |   Politics

Search

Google Add as a preferred source on Google

US, Denmark and Greenland Set to Sign Arctic Security Deal

US, Denmark and Greenland Set to Sign Arctic Security Deal.

Denmark, Greenland and the United States are set to sign a new Greenland security agreement on Tuesday that could expand the US military presence while placing broader Arctic security under NATO oversight. The signing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The agreement has not yet been published, but Denmark and Greenland say it will strengthen regional security without compromising Greenland’s sovereignty. The pact is expected to give Washington access to two additional military sites alongside the existing Pituffik Space Base, where roughly 150 US personnel are stationed.

The proposed locations are Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig on the east coast. Narsarsuaq previously hosted the US Cold War-era Bluie West One base, while Mestersvig is currently used by Denmark’s Sirius Dog Sled Patrol.

President Donald Trump is expected to join Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen for the signing ceremony. The deal follows months of tensions after Trump repeatedly argued that US control of Greenland was necessary for national security and declined at times to rule out military or economic measures to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has said the arrangement would broaden responsibility for Arctic security, with NATO playing a greater role. NATO has welcomed the agreement, saying it would support security, stability and cooperation in the strategically important region.

Trump has described the pact as giving Washington “permanent control” over Greenland’s security. Denmark and Greenland have not endorsed that characterization and have instead emphasized that the agreement recognizes Danish sovereignty, Greenland’s territorial integrity and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.

The agreement builds on decades of US strategic involvement in Greenland. During the Cold War, Washington operated 17 military installations and stationed more than 10,000 personnel on the island. Today, Pituffik is the only remaining US base, but the new pact could mark a significant expansion of America’s Arctic military footprint.

  • Market Data
Close

Welcome to EconoTimes

Sign up for daily updates for the most important
stories unfolding in the global economy.