US, Denmark Agree to Expand Military Presence in Greenland
Sep 19, 2026
The United States and Denmark have reached an agreement to expand the American military presence in Greenland, easing months of tensions over US President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for Washington to acquire the Arctic island.
Under the agreement, Greenland will remain under Danish sovereignty, while the United States will take on a larger security role on the strategically important island. Trump said the deal gives the US permanent control over Greenland’s security and other needs, describing it as a major step toward addressing American national security concerns.
Denmark said the agreement is expected to be signed by the governments of the United States, Denmark and Greenland next week during the United Nations General Assembly. However, the deal will still require parliamentary approval in both Denmark and Greenland before it can take effect.
Danish and Greenlandic leaders said the agreement respects Greenland’s sovereignty and right to self-determination. The United States, meanwhile, has presented the arrangement as a significant gain for its security interests in the Arctic.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to US national security and has pushed Denmark to sell the island to the United States. He has also declined to rule out the use of military force to secure control of Greenland, despite Denmark being a NATO ally.
Denmark and Greenland have consistently rejected the idea that Greenland is for sale. They have also criticised reports that the United States was conducting intelligence-gathering activities on the island.
The US push for a greater role in Greenland has drawn opposition from Russia and several European countries, adding to wider concerns over security and geopolitical competition in the Arctic.
