U.S., Denmark and Greenland Sign Deal Expanding American Bases on the Island

The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement on Tuesday that gives American forces broader access to Greenland, ending a dispute that strained relations between Washington and its NATO allies after President Trump spoke of acquiring the island. The deal was signed on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, with Mr. Trump, Greenland Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attending, according to CBS News and Al Jazeera.

The agreement amends a 1951 security pact, CBS News reported. It reaffirms Greenland’s sovereignty as part of the Kingdom of Denmark while giving the United States wide access to its airspace and territory. Al Jazeera said U.S. aircraft may fly over and land anywhere in Greenland, including its territorial waters, and that the deal grants “undersea access.” The accord has no expiration date, and it stays in force if Greenland becomes independent, in which case Greenland remains in NATO and assumes Denmark’s obligations, the reports said.

On the ground, the United States may expand Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, its northernmost military installation, which serves as an early-warning post for incoming missiles, CBS News reported. New bases will be established at Narsarsuaq in the south and Mestersvig in the east, according to both outlets, with an option to add “defense areas.” Under CBS News’s account, any of the three parties can propose new defense areas, and each requires the approval of the others.

The deal also restricts outside powers. No country outside NATO may set up military installations or a persistent military presence in Greenland without the unanimous approval of Denmark, Greenland and the United States, Al Jazeera reported. Screening of foreign investment is tightened for investors from outside NATO and the European Union, who are barred from “sensitive sectors.” CBS News described that as aimed at limiting Chinese and Russian influence.

The leaders framed the agreement as a settlement of doubts. “The world has changed a great deal since 1951,” Mr. Nielsen said, and the deal should settle questions about “where Greenland’s loyalty lies,” CBS News reported. Ms. Frederiksen said it respects the “territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark” and Greenland’s right to self-determination, and Al Jazeera quoted her calling it “a deal that can last forever.” Mr. Nielsen called it “a win-win-win.” Mr. Trump said, “This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody,” according to Al Jazeera. In his U.N. speech, CBS News reported, he said the deal gives the United States “permanent control over security and all other needs” on the territory.

European institutions welcomed the agreement. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Council President Antonio Costa praised it, and Mr. Costa called it “a positive step for transatlantic cooperation and Arctic security,” Al Jazeera reported.

The history behind it is fraught. Mr. Trump has long floated acquiring Greenland, by force if necessary, which drew criticism from NATO allies, CBS News noted. Ms. Frederiksen had warned that a U.S. takeover would end NATO, according to Al Jazeera. U.S. forces on the island have fallen since 1945 from thousands of troops across 17 bases to about 200 at Pituffik, the outlet said.