US, Denmark, Greenland Sign Security Deal Expanding Military Presence

President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed a security deal on September 23, 2026, at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The agreement supplements a 1951 treaty and allows the U.S. to build two new military bases in southern and eastern Greenland, in addition to the existing Pituffik Space Base in the north. The pact prohibits non-NATO countries from basing forces in Greenland and assures U.S. military access if Greenland becomes independent. Trump stated the deal provides permanent control over security of the territory and enhances NATO.

Danish and Greenlandic officials emphasized the agreement reaffirms Greenland's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Experts suggest the military presence increase may be modest, potentially under 50 troops. The deal aims to ease tensions stemming from Trump's repeated calls to acquire Greenland for national security reasons, which had alarmed Denmark and other European nations. The agreement comes after months of negotiations and Trump's prior threats, including suggesting the U.S. could use force to acquire the island. The pact reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland and recognizes Greenland's right to self-determination.