Trump couldn’t get Greenland. So instead he secured permanent US military rights | Here’s what the deal is | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump is shifting from his earlier ambition to acquire Greenland to a security arrangement that would significantly expand the US military footprint on the Arctic island.
Trump is due to meet Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday (September 22) to sign the trilateral agreement.
Reuters reports that the pact is expected to allow the US to establish military facilities at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig on the east coast, in addition to the existing Pituffik space base.
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The new agreement allows the US to establish military facilities in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig in Greenland, greatly expanding its military footprint on the island.
Greenland is strategically important due to its location between North America and Europe, which helps monitor military activities and secure resources as the Arctic ice melts.
The deal represents the largest expansion of US military infrastructure in Greenland since the Cold War and added two new military sites to the existing Pituffik space base.
Denmark says the deal respects its sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination, with Arctic security falling under the collective responsibility of NATO, not the US alone.
Trump says the deal gives the U.S. permanent control over Greenland’s security and prevents adversaries from setting up military bases without U.S. consent, though its legal implications remain unclear.
The deal marks a major shift from Trump’s earlier demand for US control over Greenland. But it also leaves important questions unanswered: the full text has not been made public, and it remains unclear whether the arrangement changes the existing US-Danish-Danish defense framework or creates a new legal structure.
From buying Greenland to checking its security
Trump’s interest in Greenland dates back to his first term as president, when he publicly floated the idea of the US buying the territory in 2019.
The issue returned with much greater force after Trump was re-elected. In December 2024, he described ownership and control of Greenland as an “absolute must”. In January 2025, he refused to rule out military force to retake the territory, sparking a diplomatic crisis with Denmark and concern among NATO allies.
Greenlandic leaders have repeatedly rejected the idea of the island becoming part of the United States. Denmark has also insisted that Greenland is not for sale.
Negotiations eventually shifted from the question of who owns Greenland to who is responsible for its security.
The result is an agreement that is now to be signed.
What is the new agreement with Greenland about?
The most immediate change is expected to be a substantial expansion of the US military presence.
The US already operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, a strategically important facility that supports missile warning, space surveillance and other defense activities.
Under the new arrangement, Washington is expected to gain access to two additional sites:
Narsarsuaq: A former US Cold War air base in southern Greenland. The US closed the Bluie West One base there in the 1950s, and the local population has since dwindled to just a few dozen.
Mestersvig: An outpost on the east coast of Greenland currently used by Denmark’s Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite special forces unit responsible for patrolling the remote Arctic territory.
The expansion would represent the largest increase in US military infrastructure in Greenland since the Cold War. During this period, Washington maintained 17 installations and more than 10,000 personnel on the island. Today, Pituffik is a major US military installation with approximately 150 US employees.
Trump Says “Permanent Control”; Denmark maintains that sovereignty remains
One of the biggest uncertainties surrounding the deal is what Trump means by “permanent control.”
Trump said the deal gives the United States “permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland.” He also said that US adversaries would not be allowed to establish bases, maintain military forces or make sensitive investments on the island without Washington’s approval.
Denmark says the deal respects sovereignty
Copenhagen says the deal respects Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that Arctic security would be under NATO’s collective responsibility rather than being left solely to the US and Denmark.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen similarly said the agreement recognizes Greenland’s interests and its right to self-determination.
The actual legal meaning of the US security commitment therefore remains one of the most important unanswered questions.
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Why is Greenland so important to the US?
The largest island in the world lies between North America and Europe, at the intersection of the Arctic and the North Atlantic. Its location gives it strategic importance for monitoring activity in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
The island also has significant mineral and energy resources, making it increasingly important as Arctic ice recedes and competition for resources and shipping lanes intensifies.
For Washington, Greenland’s geography is also important for monitoring potential Russian military activity and monitoring developments in the increasingly contested Arctic.
Russia and China are central to the deal
Trump has repeatedly cited concerns about Russia and China gaining a foothold in Greenland.
The US administration says the deal will prevent Washington’s geopolitical rivals from setting up military bases or deploying troops on the island. It is also looking for mechanisms to limit sensitive investments.
China’s growing interest in Arctic resources has especially worried American officials.
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