Greenland's government and residents have welcomed a new defence agreement with the U.S. and Denmark that allows Washington to expand its military presence on the Arctic island, although concerns over U.S. intentions remain.
The agreement builds on a 1951 defence pact between Denmark and the U.S., allowing the U.S. to establish new military sites at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig. It also reaffirms Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland and the territory's right to self-determination.
The agreement allows the U.S. to modernise and expand operations at its existing Pituffik Space Base while establishing new military sites at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig on the east coast.
The pact does not specify troop numbers or a timetable for the expansion. Details of the new facilities must also be agreed by Greenland, Denmark and the U.S., meaning Washington does not have unrestricted control over the sites.
Narsarsuaq was used as a U.S. military base during the Second World War and has a large runway with access to deep water. Mestersvig is a remote outpost currently used by the Danish Sirius Dog Sled Patrol.
The agreement also bars countries outside NATO from establishing manned or unmanned military installations or maintaining a persistent military presence in Greenland.
Greenlandic lawmaker Naaja Nathanielsen said she was relieved by the agreement but acknowledged that tensions in recent years had fuelled scepticism towards Washington.
“There has previously been a significant American presence in Greenland, so this is nothing new,” Nathanielsen told the press.
“However, in light of the unrest over the past few years, there is likely greater scepticism in Greenland.”
Some residents said a larger U.S. presence could strengthen security, while others voiced concerns about its impact on local communities.
Malene Vahl Rasmussen, mayor of Kujalleq municipality, where Narsarsuaq is located, said any U.S. military expansion must respect Greenlandic traditions and protect hunting and fishing.
“You can't simply say, 'Okay, we've signed this, so now we trust you again'. Trust really needs to be rebuilt within that partnership,” she told Reuters.
The agreement follows months of tension after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly said he wanted the U.S. to acquire Greenland, citing national security concerns, the island's strategic Arctic location and its mineral resources.
At the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said the U.S. would immediately begin developing a larger military presence at suitable locations.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the agreement as beneficial for the U.S., Denmark, Greenland, Europe and NATO. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called it a “win-win-win”.
Crucially, the pact does not transfer Greenlandic territory to the U.S. It explicitly recognises Denmark's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as Greenland's right to self-determination.
The agreement also provides for its continuation if Greenland becomes independent from Denmark, provided Greenland remains a NATO member.
The agreement must now be approved by the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments.
The 1951 defence agreement already allowed the U.S. to deploy troops in Greenland, where Washington currently maintains its military presence at Pituffik Space Base.
Trump has previously linked Greenland to his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system. The new agreement mentions the project but contains no concrete proposal for its development in Greenland.
NATO welcomed the agreement, saying it would help advance security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
For Greenland, the pact represents a shift from the tensions generated by Trump's earlier calls to acquire the island, creating a framework for a larger U.S. military presence while maintaining Danish sovereignty and Greenlandic oversight.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign and ratify their peace agreement as soon as possible, calling it a...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling t...
Asian stocks plunged to their lowest level in more than two months on Tuesday as advances by Chinese chipmakers rattled investor confidence in the ...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students protesting outside a school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Tuesday, as a wave of student demonstrations continues across France.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a newly opened defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to discuss measures to tackle transboundary haze during preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, as forest and land fires in Indonesia continue to affect air quality across the region, the Philippines said on Tuesday.
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the United Kingdom believes Iran was likely behind an alleged plot connected to RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire in England that has played a role in U.S. operations against Iran, escalating tensions between London and Tehran.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment