US to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with Denmark

While reaffirming Copenhagen's sovereignty over it, the US, Denmark and Greenland have signed a defence accord that allows Washington to build two new military bases in the Arctic territory.

Key points

• The accord signed on Tuesday amends and updates a 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the US.
• The 1951 agreement already allowed the US to send as plenty of troops as it wanted to Greenland.
• Washington at present operates its Pituffik Space Base in Greenland's north-west, and the new agreement allows the US to "modernise and expand its activities" there.
• "This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States, for everybody, and for Greenland it's going to be incredible."
• According to Jens-Frederik Nielsen, for Greenland, it is not only an agreement concerning us, it is agreement with us.

At a signing ceremony at the UN General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump remarked "we will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations".

While Greenland's PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen remarked it was a "win-win-win", danish PM Mette Frederiksen remarked the agreement was "good for the US, Denmark and Greenland" and additionally for Europe and Nato.

Notably, the three leaders then inked the accord, seemingly ending more than a year of tension over the Arctic territory.

Trump had threatened to "take" the semi-autonomous Arctic territory over what he remarked were national security worries, citing its strategic defence location and its mineral wealth.

His rhetoric prompted outcry from Greenlanders, Danes and European leaders who issued a joint statement saying his words "undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral".

Notably, the accord signed on Tuesday amends and updates a 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the US.

In practice, the new agreement notes the US "shall be allowed to establish an additional Defence Area at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig" – referring to locations in Greenland's south and east.

Narsarsuaq has deep-water access and a sizeable runway which US military engineers were surveying last week, according to Danish media.

For context, the Mestersvig outpost is remote, far less developed, and applied by a Danish naval dog sled unit.

In practice, the "modalities and technical details" of the bases are yet to be confirmed, and according to the accord, must be mutually agreed by all parties.

It additionally states that "no state that is not a member of Nato shall be allowed to establish its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland nor shall they be allowed a persistent presence of military forces in Greenland".

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Trump remarked: "We going to have a tremendous relationship, a secure relationship."

Meanwhile, Frederiksen described the signing of the accord as a "milestone in our long-standing co-operation".

"Seventy-five years ago we entered into an agreement regarding the defence of Greenland. Today, we're signing an even bigger and better agreement – a accord that can last forever."

In practice, the Danish prime minister stressed that the agreement "respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as Greenland's right to self-determination".

It takes into account the individuals of Greenland, our rights, our livelihoods and the development of our country.

"Greenland matters for North American security and for transatlantic security, " he remarked, adding that the Nato had a key role to play in the North Atlantic in a changing security situation.

In practice, the agreement additionally confirmed Greenland would remain in Nato if it were to gain independence from Denmark.

Notably, the 1951 agreement already allowed the US to send as plenty of troops as it wanted to Greenland. Washington already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base.

Trump had tried for months to purchase or annex Greenland, arguing that it was vulnerable to adversaries, including Russia and China.

He argued the Arctic island was an essential piece of his plan to build a futuristic "Golden Dome" defence system to protect the US against missile attacks.

Nevertheless the agreement only mentions the project once, and contains no concrete proposal.

Notably, the island has vast – and largely untapped – reserves of rare earth minerals, plenty of of which are crucial for technologies including mobile phones and electric vehicles.

Trump remarked last week that the new agreement came with "no cost to the United States".

Meanwhile, a Nato spokesperson remarked shortly afterwards that the military alliance welcomed the agreement. It would "help advance security, stability and cooperation in this vital region".

For now, US to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.