By AZE.US
The United States could establish two new military bases in Greenland and expand the existing Pituffik Space Base under a three-party agreement signed by Washington, Copenhagen and Greenland’s government.
President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed the agreement on Sept. 22 in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.
The accord ends months of tension over Trump’s calls for Greenland to come under U.S. control. Greenland remains a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and the agreement affirms Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
Two Bases and Golden Dome
The United States would be able to establish military facilities at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig on the east coast while expanding Pituffik. U.S. aircraft and ships would receive broad access to Greenland’s airspace and territorial waters.
The agreement also permits deployment of elements of the U.S. Golden Dome missile-defense system. The size of the future force and construction timetable have not been announced.
Military activity by countries outside NATO would be prohibited. Greenland would also be required to limit control by investors from countries outside NATO, partner states and the European Union over critical infrastructure and strategic-resource extraction.
Open-Ended Agreement
The accord supplements the 1951 U.S.-Denmark defense agreement, has no expiration date and can be changed only by mutual consent. If Greenland becomes independent, it would be expected to retain NATO membership or apply to join the alliance.
The Danish and Greenlandic parliaments must approve the agreement before it takes effect. It would represent the largest expansion of U.S. military infrastructure on the island since the Cold War.
AZE.US