{"id":37847,"date":"2026-09-21T06:02:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T03:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=37847"},"modified":"2026-09-21T07:56:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T04:56:02","slug":"us-to-expand-presence-in-greenland-after-reaching-security-agreement-with-denmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/us-to-expand-presence-in-greenland-after-reaching-security-agreement-with-denmark\/","title":{"rendered":"US to expand presence in Greenland after reaching security agreement with Denmark"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>7 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The United States, Denmark and Greenland have reached a deal that will allow Washington to expand its military presence on Greenland while keeping the Arctic island under Danish sovereignty.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement follows months of tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly said that Greenland was important to U.S. national security and should come under American control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump said the agreement gives the United States \u201cpermanent control\u201d over security and other security-related needs in Greenland. Denmark and Greenland, however, said the arrangement respects the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The full text of the agreement has not yet been released. It is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly next week and will then have to go through the necessary parliamentary procedures in Denmark and Greenland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement is centered on expanding the U.S. military role in Greenland and preventing countries considered U.S. adversaries from establishing a military or strategic foothold on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump said the United States would have a permanent ability to take measures needed to defend Greenland and U.S. security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also said countries considered U.S. adversaries would not be allowed to establish military bases, maintain a military presence or make sensitive investments in Greenland without U.S. approval.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: President Donald J. Trump announces complete and permanent American security control over Greenland, and excludes any adversary from Greenland and the surrounding region. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MVuT4yAfG5\">pic.twitter.com\/MVuT4yAfG5<\/a><\/p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WhiteHouse\/status\/2101062116765499575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 18, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>U.S. officials have described provisions that would provide Washington with long-term access, basing and overflight rights and allow additional military infrastructure to be developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reported provisions would also restrict non-NATO countries from establishing military bases in Greenland and limit investments in sensitive sectors by countries viewed as security threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the precise scale of the planned U.S. military expansion and the exact authority Washington would receive remain unclear because the agreement has not been publicly released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Greenland Remains Under Danish Sovereignty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The deal does not transfer Greenland to the United States. Denmark and Greenland have both said that their sovereignty and Greenland&#8217;s right to self-determination will be protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark as well as the right of Greenlanders to determine their own future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the agreement should strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic while respecting Denmark&#8217;s stated conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This means the arrangement is focused on security and military access rather than a transfer of territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That distinction is important because Trump&#8217;s previous demands had included acquiring Greenland, while the current agreement leaves the island within the Kingdom of Denmark.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Denmark-ship-Arctic-security.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Denmark-ship-Arctic-security.jpeg?resize=1016%2C577&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Triton passes an iceberg in the waters around Greenland\" class=\"wp-image-34128\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Denmark-ship-Arctic-security.jpeg?resize=1024%2C582&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Denmark-ship-Arctic-security.jpeg?resize=300%2C170&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Denmark-ship-Arctic-security.jpeg?resize=768%2C436&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Denmark-ship-Arctic-security.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>The Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Triton passes an iceberg in the waters around Greenland, on November 6, 2022. (Image Credit: NATO)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Larger US Military Presence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most immediate effect of the agreement is expected to be a stronger U.S. military presence in Greenland. The United States already has a military facility at Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The base is used for missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance and gives Washington an important position between North America and the Arctic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new agreement could allow the United States to expand military infrastructure and operations beyond its existing presence. The exact number of additional troops, aircraft, facilities or other assets has not been announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United States already has broad military rights in Greenland under a 1951 defense agreement with Denmark, which was later updated. The new arrangement could therefore expand and formalize some of those existing rights rather than create an entirely new U.S. military presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Greenland\u2019s Importance for US<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Greenland&#8217;s location is the main reason it has become increasingly important to U.S. defense planning. The island sits between North America and Europe and is positioned along important Arctic and North Atlantic routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its location makes it useful for detecting and monitoring missile launches, tracking aircraft and ships, and supporting wider surveillance of the Arctic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration has also linked Greenland to its planned Golden Dome missile defense system, which is intended to protect the United States against missile threats. A larger U.S. presence could therefore give Washington additional locations for radar, surveillance, communications, and other defense systems.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Denmark-Frederiksen-US-Trump.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Denmark-Frederiksen-US-Trump.jpg?resize=690%2C370&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (L) and U.S. Donald Trump (R)\" class=\"wp-image-26910\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Denmark-Frederiksen-US-Trump.jpg?w=690&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Denmark-Frederiksen-US-Trump.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump (R). (Image Credit: Carlos Barria\/Michele Tantussi\/Reuters)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Russia and China in Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement also has a direct connection to growing U.S. concerns about Russia and China in the Arctic. Russia has extensive military infrastructure across its Arctic territory, while China has expanded its economic, scientific, and diplomatic activity in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Washington has been particularly concerned about the possibility of either country gaining military access or developing strategically important economic positions in Greenland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reported agreement would prevent non-NATO countries from establishing military bases or maintaining military forces on the island. It would also restrict certain investments in sensitive sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This would give the United States and its NATO allies greater control over the military and strategic environment around Greenland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>Greenland&#8217;s Mineral Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Security is not the only reason Greenland has attracted increasing international attention. The island has significant deposits of minerals, including rare earth elements that are important for electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy equipment and advanced military technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many of these resources remain largely undeveloped. The agreement&#8217;s reported restrictions on sensitive foreign investment could therefore have implications beyond military security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United States has increasingly sought to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals and strengthen access to alternative sources. Greenland&#8217;s mineral resources could become part of that wider effort, although the new agreement does not publicly establish that the United States will receive control over Greenland&#8217;s resources.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Denmark-Exercise-Greenland.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Denmark-Exercise-Greenland.jpg?resize=1016%2C678&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Members of the Danish armed forces practice looking for potential threats during a military drill\" class=\"wp-image-33628\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Denmark-Exercise-Greenland.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Denmark-Exercise-Greenland.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Denmark-Exercise-Greenland.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Denmark-Exercise-Greenland.jpg?resize=589%2C392&amp;ssl=1 589w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Denmark-Exercise-Greenland.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Members of the Danish armed forces practice looking for potential threats during a military drill as Danish, Swedish and Norwegian home guard units together with Danish, German and French troops take part in joint military drills in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, on September 17, 2025. (Image Credit: Reuters\/Guglielmo Mangiapane)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Strategic Importance for NATO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement could also reduce one of the most serious recent sources of tension between Washington and its European allies. Trump&#8217;s earlier demands for control of Greenland created concern among Denmark and other NATO members because Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dispute raised questions about relations inside the alliance at a time when NATO is already focused on Russia, European defense and security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NATO has welcomed the new agreement, saying it would help advance security, stability and cooperation in the region. A larger U.S. presence in Greenland could strengthen NATO&#8217;s ability to monitor the North Atlantic and Arctic approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It could also give the alliance additional military infrastructure in an area that is becoming increasingly important as Arctic competition grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Greenland agreement comes as the Arctic becomes more important to major powers. Climate change is making parts of the region more accessible, while new shipping possibilities and interest in energy and mineral resources are increasing competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, Russia is maintaining a major military presence in its Arctic territories, while China is seeking a greater role in Arctic economic and scientific activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite Trump&#8217;s announcement, the agreement is not yet fully in force. The United States, Denmark and Greenland are expected to move toward a formal signing at the UN General Assembly next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement will then need to pass the required parliamentary procedures. Its final text will be closely watched because several important questions remain unanswered, including the size of the future U.S. military presence, the construction of new facilities and the exact restrictions on foreign investment.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuuk-Greenland-drone-view.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuuk-Greenland-drone-view.jpg?resize=1016%2C678&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A drone view shows a general view of Nuuk, Greenland\" class=\"wp-image-33679\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuuk-Greenland-drone-view.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuuk-Greenland-drone-view.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuuk-Greenland-drone-view.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuuk-Greenland-drone-view.jpg?resize=589%2C392&amp;ssl=1 589w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nuuk-Greenland-drone-view.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>A drone view shows a general view of Nuuk, Greenland, on January 15, 2026. (Image Credit: Reuters\/Marko Djurica)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The deal represents a shift from Trump&#8217;s earlier demand to acquire Greenland toward a security arrangement that expands U.S. military access while leaving the island under Danish sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement would give the United States a larger and more permanent security role in one of the Arctic&#8217;s most strategically important locations, while strengthening the military importance of Greenland for the United States and NATO.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S., Denmark and Greenland have reached a deal that will allow Washington to expand its military presence on Greenland while keeping the Arctic island under Danish sovereignty. Trump said the agreement gives the United States \u201cpermanent control\u201d over security and other security-related needs in Greenland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33627,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[62,1,125],"tags":[289,45,6,288,357,880,5,963,59,71,20,113,702,7],"class_list":["post-37847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-news","category-united-states","tag-arctic","tag-china","tag-defense","tag-denmark","tag-europe","tag-greenland","tag-military","tag-minerals","tag-nato","tag-politics","tag-russia","tag-security","tag-trump","tag-u-s"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-9Qr","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Greenland-flag.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37847"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37859,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37847\/revisions\/37859"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}