U.S. Finalizes Historic Military Agreement for Greenland Bases

WHO:

Fox News - President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, Prime Minister Jens-Frederick Nielsen of Greenland, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Greenland Foreign Minister Múte B. Egede.

WHAT:

Fox News - The agreement allows the U.S. to establish additional military installations without separate Danish or Greenlandic approval and explicitly bars adversaries from establishing a military presence.

Fox News - The agreement creates a mechanism to block adversarial investment in sensitive sectors, including telecommunications infrastructure and critical minerals.

Fox News - The agreement is described as a "huge win for the United States and the American people" by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Fox News - The U.S. will make no payment to Denmark or Greenland in exchange for the new rights, according to a U.S. official.

Fox News - The expanded access could eventually support Trump’s planned Golden Dome missile defense system.

CBS News - The White House released the text of the deal shortly after the signing ceremony.

CBS News - Trump stated, "We will have the complete ability to do what is necessary to defend the American continent and also Europe and other places."

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement allows the U.S. to build two new bases in Greenland, specifically in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement reaffirms Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland while granting the U.S. broad access to the island's airspace and territory.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement has no expiration date and blocks non-NATO countries from establishing bases on the island without agreement from all three parties.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement intensifies screening for foreign investment from non-NATO and non-European Union members.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement allows the U.S. to expand the existing Pituffik Space Base, which serves as an early-warning system for incoming missiles.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement allows the U.S. to build two new bases in Greenland.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The deal persists even if Greenland eventually becomes independent from Denmark.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement allows the U.S. to propose new "defense areas" in Greenland for additional military sites.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The deal has no expiration date and blocks non-NATO countries from establishing bases on the island without agreement from all three parties.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - Trump stated, "This agreement, made with the Kingdom of Denmark, an incredible, beautiful country, and the Greenland people itself, gives the United States permanent control over security and all other needs on that territory."

Fox News - The U.S., Denmark, and Greenland are set to formally sign a new security agreement that grants the U.S. permanent military rights in Greenland.

IJR - The United States plans to reopen a Cold War-era base in southern Greenland and establish a new facility on the island’s east coast, specifically in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig.

Fox News - The agreement allows Washington to establish additional military installations without separate Danish or Greenlandic approval and explicitly bars adversaries from establishing a military presence.

WHERE:

Fox News - The signing ceremony will take place on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

IJR - The military sites will be located in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, Greenland.

WHEN:

Fox News - The signing ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday.

WHY:

Fox News - The administration sees Greenland’s location as increasingly important as Russia and China compete for influence in the Arctic.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - Nielsen stated, "This agreement should put to rest any doubt today and in the future about where Greenland's loyalty lies."

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - Frederiksen emphasized that the pact recognizes "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom" as well as Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - Nielsen stated, "The world has changed a great deal since 1951," referring to a previous security pact that the new deal amends.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - Nielsen stated, "This agreement should put to rest any doubt today and in the future about where Greenland's loyalty lies."

Fox News - The agreement is part of Trump’s push for greater American control over Greenland, which is strategically vital and rich in mineral resources.

Fox News - The deal aims to address national security concerns regarding adversarial influence in the Arctic, particularly from Russia and China.

HOW:

Fox News - The agreement includes restrictions that extend beyond military installations, aimed at preventing adversarial investments in sensitive sectors.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement creates a process for blocking adversarial investments in sectors the U.S. considers particularly sensitive, including telecommunications infrastructure, undersea cables, ports, and critical minerals.

[12:12 PM EDT] - CBS News - The agreement intensifies screening for foreign investment from non-NATO and non-European Union members, aimed at blocking influence from China and Russia.

Fox News - The agreement creates a mechanism to block adversarial investment in sensitive sectors, including telecommunications infrastructure and critical minerals.

Fox News - The arrangement will place Arctic security under NATO oversight and expand U.S. military infrastructure in Greenland.

(UPDATED September 23, 2026 07:11 UTC)

The U.S. has reached a significant agreement that allows for the establishment of additional military installations in Greenland without needing separate approval from Denmark or Greenland, while also preventing adversaries from setting up a military presence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the deal as a "huge win for the United States and the American people," emphasizing its importance in the context of rising competition from Russia and China in the Arctic. Trump stated that this agreement will provide the U.S. with the complete ability to defend the American continent, Europe, and other regions, while also blocking adversarial investments in sensitive sectors like telecommunications and critical minerals.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 19:59 UTC)

The U.S. has reached an agreement to build two new military bases in Greenland, located in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, while reaffirming Denmark's sovereignty over the island. This pact not only grants the U.S. broad access to Greenland's airspace and territory but also includes measures to intensify screening for foreign investments from non-NATO and non-European Union countries. According to Nielsen, this agreement should eliminate any uncertainty about Greenland's loyalty, while Frederiksen highlighted its recognition of the Kingdom's sovereignty and the rights of Greenlanders to self-determination.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 19:01 UTC)

The U.S. has reached a significant agreement that will allow for the expansion of the Pituffik Space Base, which plays a crucial role in missile defense, as well as the construction of two new bases in Greenland. This deal will remain in effect even if Greenland gains independence from Denmark, reflecting changes in global security dynamics since the original pact in 1951. Additionally, the agreement includes measures to prevent adversarial investments in sensitive sectors like telecommunications, undersea cables, ports, and critical minerals.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 16:58 UTC)

The U.S. has reached a significant agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark that allows for the establishment of new military sites in Greenland, granting the U.S. permanent control over security and other needs on the island. This deal, which has no expiration date, also prevents non-NATO countries from setting up bases in Greenland without the consent of all three parties involved. According to Nielsen, this agreement should eliminate any uncertainty regarding Greenland's loyalty moving forward, while also intensifying scrutiny of foreign investments from non-NATO and non-European Union nations to curb influence from China and Russia.

(UPDATED September 22, 2026 10:57 UTC)

President Trump, along with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederick Nielsen, is set to sign a new security agreement that grants the U.S. permanent military rights in Greenland during a ceremony at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. This agreement will allow the U.S. to reopen a Cold War-era base and establish new military facilities in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, while also barring adversaries from setting up military operations in the region. The deal aims to enhance national security by preventing adversarial investments in critical sectors and placing Arctic security under NATO oversight, reflecting the strategic importance of Greenland's resources.