The United States is preparing to expand its military presence in Greenland by returning to a former Cold War-era facility in the south and establishing a presence at another site on the island’s eastern coast, according to a Reuters report.
The planned move is part of a new security arrangement involving the United States, Denmark and Greenland. The three sides are expected to formalise the agreement during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
One of the locations involved is Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland. The area was once home to the American military installation known as Bluie West One, which was shut down in the 1950s. The second site is Mestersvig in eastern Greenland, where Denmark’s Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, a special forces unit, currently operates.
The precise terms of the agreement had not been publicly released when the report was published. People familiar with the discussions said some provisions could still be modified before the agreement is formally signed.
Agreement Comes After Months of Tensions
The proposed military expansion follows months of heightened tensions surrounding Greenland and Washington’s interest in increasing its role on the strategically located Arctic island.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire for greater American control over Greenland. His earlier statements, including comments about not ruling out economic or military pressure, contributed to tensions with Denmark and other NATO members.
The latest agreement is being presented within a broader security framework. Denmark has said Arctic security will remain connected to NATO rather than becoming an arrangement handled exclusively by Washington and Copenhagen.
Greenland’s Strategic Importance
Greenland occupies a key geographical position between North America and Europe, making it important for monitoring activity across the Arctic and North Atlantic. Its location has also made the island an important part of broader discussions about Arctic defence and security.
The United States already operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. During the Cold War, however, America’s military footprint on the island was considerably larger, with 17 installations and more than 10,000 personnel stationed there at its peak. Today, Pituffik is the only permanent US military installation remaining on Greenland, with roughly 150 American military personnel.
What the New Arrangement Could Mean
If implemented as reported, the agreement would mark a significant expansion of the American military presence in Greenland compared with the current arrangement.
However, several details—including the number of personnel, equipment and specific military functions that could be assigned to Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig—were not immediately clear.
The governments of Denmark and Greenland had not publicly confirmed all details of the reported arrangement, while the White House also declined to provide specific information before the agreement was finalised.
The development comes as Arctic security gains increasing importance for NATO and other countries operating in the region. The final agreement and its implementation are therefore likely to provide more clarity on the future role of the United States in Greenland.
