U.S., Denmark, Greenland sign deal to expand U.S. military presence in Greenland

The United States, Denmark and its autonomous territory of Greenland on Tuesday signed an agreement in New York to expand the U.S. military presence on the strategic Arctic island.

Under the wide-ranging deal, the United States will be allowed to modernize and expand its activities at Pituffik Space Base, which it already operates in northwestern Greenland, and to establish an additional defense area at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig.

The deal also permits U.S. aircraft to fly over and land in any territory in Greenland, including its territorial waters, while U.S. public vessels may have undersea access to and movement within the territorial waters, without restriction except as mutually agreed upon by the parties.

The agreement bars non-NATO states from establishing manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland and from maintaining persistent presence of military forces in Greenland, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.