Trump Signs Deal for Two New Greenland Military Bases

Donald Trump says he has secured permanent control over Greenland's security, a move that will see the United States open two new military bases in the territory. These installations would mark a significant shift in the island's defense posture since the Cold War era.

The president plans to sign an agreement with Danish and Greenlandic leaders at the UN General Assembly. This deal is designed to clear the path for expanding America's military presence on the ice sheet. Trump expressed his excitement about the upcoming meeting, noting he looks forward to it tomorrow.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told TV2 Denmark she thinks they have reached a good agreement. As part of this deal, the US plans to re-establish a Cold War-era military base in southern Greenland and set up another on the east coast, now used by the Danish dog sled patrol. The specific sites are Narsarsuaq, whose population has dwindled to a few dozen people since the US closed its Bluie West One military base in the 1950s, and Mestersvig, a military outpost used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, a Danish special forces unit.

The text of the agreement has not been made public. Three people familiar with the deal spoke on condition of anonymity to Reuters. They said details will not be finalized until it is signed. The governments of Denmark and Greenland did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A White House spokesperson declined to comment on the details, repeating an earlier statement that its signing on Tuesday would 'secure and defend the security of Greenland and the United States.'

Denmark says the deal puts Arctic security under the watch of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization rather than leaving it solely to the US and Denmark. The US is set to install two new military bases in Greenland as part of a new agreement Donald Trump claimed handed over permanent control of Greenland's security. General view of Mestersvig military outpost in Mestersvig, Greenland, where the US will set up an outpost.

The deal follows months of pressure from Trump. He has long said he wants the US to control Greenland and has at times refused to rule out military or economic force to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. The idea has been rejected by an overwhelming majority of Greenlanders, polling shows. Trump's threats, which peaked in January, triggered a diplomatic crisis within NATO and pushed Denmark and Greenland into negotiations with Washington aimed at defusing the pressure.

During the Cold War, the US maintained 17 military installations and more than 10,000 personnel in Greenland. Today only Pituffik Space Base remains, with some 150 US military personnel. Under the deal, Greenland remains Denmark's territory. Trump said Friday the US has entered into an agreement with Denmark to give the US 'permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many US concerns'. It was not immediately clear what the president meant by 'all other needs'.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called the deal with Trump a 'good agreement'. The deal follows months of pressure from Trump, who has long said he wants the US to control Greenland and has at times refused to rule out military or economic force to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland and the United States of America,' Trump wrote, calling it an 'infinite life' agreement.

Additionally, from now on, no US adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval,' he claimed. The US will now 'immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many' and will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction. It will allegedly not cost the US anything, Trump insisted, as a senior official told Fox News the deal would even remain in effect if Greenland were to ever become an independent country.

'This solution is a great one for the United States of America, Denmark, Greenland, and all of our Allies,' he wrote. We look forward to working with the wonderful people of Denmark and Greenland toward a magnificent future with respect to this large, and highly strategic, parcel of land,' the president continued.

We will be very protective of it!" The sentiment echoed loudly. This is a dream come true for the United States of America, one that is very important, historic, and special," he concluded. Greenlands and Denmarks parliaments must also sign off on this plan, their governments noted in a joint statement.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stands with Greenland's Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the Faroe Islands' Beinir Johannesen on the island itself. They were pictured together recently. Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance toured a US military base there last March. Their visit happened right as the President pushed hard to buy the whole place.

"It is gratifying that we are about to enter into an agreement that ensures and strengthens the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States and the Western alliance," Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said. He insisted the pact recognizes Greenlands interests and our spot in global cooperation. It benefits us all. Frederiksen added that the deal acknowledges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.

Under this new arrangement, Denmark and Greenland will no longer need to approve fresh US military installations on the island, Fox News reported. But the terms restrict investment. The agreement only allows the US and its allies to make sensitive investments on the territory. This includes telecommunications infrastructure, undersea capabilities, ports, and critical minerals. The deal does not hand control of the land over to America.

Trump framed his push as a national security imperative. He cited Greenlands strategic spot in the Arctic and Chinas and Russias ambition to expand their presence there. Northern Command boss General Gregory M Guillot pointed out how Greenland could host part of an array of radar stations in the Arctic that includes outposts in Alaska and Canada.

He also said the US wants a deepwater port and a base for special forces on the island. Trump first floated buying Greenland during his first term back in 2019. Since returning to the White House, he has repeatedly doubled down on that idea. At first, officials in Greenland and Denmark scoffed at the notion. They mocked Trumps insistence that the US must own Greenland as he threatened using troops to take control.

Still, representatives from Denmark and Greenland agreed to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. White House adviser Stephen Miller also joined them along with officials at the State Department and National Security Council. Months of closed-door talks focused on letting American troops stay indefinitely. Cooperation on extracting rich natural resources like rare earths and oil was key too. They discussed possibly reopening a Second World War-era US military base on the southern coast.

Eventually, officials in Denmark and Greenland saw the agreement as serving their own security interests. The three parties reached a deal that satisfied everyone, a source familiar with the negotiations told Fox. They recognize at the end of the day that they have a national security concern here as well," Rubio explained to the outlet. Denmark and Greenland understand that they do not have the financial means necessary to defend Greenland if it were to come under attack or be threatened.

The United States holds the power to act on its own terms.' Rubio praised the president for securing the deal. 'This historic deal is a huge win for the United States and the American people,' he said in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'Thanks to President Trump's vision and leadership, this historic agreement permanently guarantees US security interests in the Arctic at zero cost to the US taxpayer,' Rubio noted.