Here is the agreement between the US, Denmark and Greenland

The agreement on Arctic security signed at the UN in New York on Tuesday by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and US President Donald Trump has now been published.

The United States will gain significantly expanded opportunities for military activity in Greenland under the new defence agreement signed by Denmark, Greenland and the US in New York.

Among other things, the agreement gives US military aircraft access to fly over and land anywhere in Greenland, while US vessels will have the right to underwater passage in Greenlandic territorial waters. It also provides for new US defence areas, with Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig specifically designated as locations that can be used as new defence areas.

The agreement has no expiry date and also contains provisions on foreign investment, military presence by countries outside NATO and what will happen to the defence agreement if Greenland one day becomes independent.

Builds on the 1951 agreement

This is not an entirely new US-Greenland defence agreement. The new agreement amends and expands the existing framework of agreements governing the US military presence in Greenland.

The basis remains the 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the United States, along with subsequent agreements, including the 2004 Igaliku Agreement.

The new agreement reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark. At the same time, it recognises the Greenlandic people as a people under international law with the right to self-determination.

According to the agreement, its purpose is to enable the parties to take quickly the steps deemed necessary or appropriate to defend Greenland, the NATO area and the American continent, among other objectives. At the same time, consideration must be given to Greenlandic society and benefits created for Greenland.

The agreement specifically mentions the establishment of the US Golden Dome defence system as one of the factors behind the need for US military access to Greenland.

US allowed to expand Pituffik

Under the agreement, the US is permitted to modernise and expand its activities at Pituffik Space Base.

However, the US military presence will no longer necessarily be concentrated around Pituffik.

The agreement explicitly allows the US to establish additional defence areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig. The specific terms and technical details must, however, be agreed between the parties.

The agreement therefore establishes the principle of US defence areas at the two locations, while their practical implementation will require further agreements.

More US defence areas could be established

The agreement also allows for the possibility of additional US defence areas elsewhere in Greenland.

Both Denmark/Greenland and the US may identify a need for a new defence area. A proposal must describe, among other things, its location, size, scope, activities and any measures intended to mitigate its impact.

The proposal must then be considered by the Permanent Committee, with implementation based on mutual agreement.

If the parties fail to reach agreement within 90 days, the issue must first be raised to permanent secretary level and then to ministerial level.

This means that the agreement does not give the US a unilateral right simply to establish a new military base anywhere in Greenland. New defence areas beyond those specifically mentioned in the agreement must be considered and implemented on the basis of agreement between the parties.

Unmanned US installations could be located outside bases

The agreement also provides for military installations outside the designated defence areas.

If a request is made to establish unmanned military installations elsewhere in Greenland, Denmark and Greenland must process the applications under expedited administrative procedures.

Here too, a proposal must describe factors including location, size, type of activity and relevant mitigation measures.

This therefore does not constitute automatic permission for any unmanned US installation, but Denmark and Greenland commit to processing such requests under an accelerated procedure.

US forces gain free access between defence areas

One of the agreement’s most far-reaching provisions concerns the freedom of movement of US forces in Greenland.

To ensure the operation of the defence areas, US vessels, aircraft, military forces and vehicles will have the right of free access and movement between defence areas throughout Greenland.

This applies on land, at sea and in the air and also includes Greenland’s territorial waters.

This access may also apply to unmanned military installations, but in such cases the parties must agree on the specific rules when the installations are established.

US military aircraft can land anywhere in Greenland

The agreement goes further when it comes to US military aircraft.

According to the text, US aircraft will have access to fly over and land in any area of Greenland.

The provision also covers territorial waters.

US vessels will also have the right to underwater access and passage in Greenlandic territorial waters. The agreement states that this will be subject to no restrictions other than those the parties may agree upon.

For other access by US vessels in territorial waters, the parties may enter into additional agreements if required by the military situation for the defence of Greenland, the NATO area or the American continent, or for other purposes agreed by the parties.

According to the agreement, these rights must be exercised with the greatest possible respect for Greenlandic society and the Greenlandic way of life, including hunting, fishing and traditional, cultural and historical activities.

US gains influence over activities near military areas

The agreement also contains provisions concerning areas surrounding US defence areas.

Nearby areas must not be used in a way that threatens the security of a defence area.

The US will therefore have the right to object to or express concern about the construction of buildings, facilities or installations – or changes to their use – if the US considers that they could pose a threat to a defence area.

However, under the text of the agreement, the US does not decide alone what happens next. Following a US request, the parties must jointly determine what steps, if any, are necessary.

Denmark and the US must also cooperate more closely in combating espionage in Greenland.

Non-NATO countries barred from establishing military bases

The agreement also places a significant restriction on the military activities of other countries in Greenland.

A country that is not a member of NATO may not be permitted to establish its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland.

Such countries may also not maintain a sustained presence of military forces in Greenland.

There is, however, an exception: this may be permitted if the parties to the agreement agree otherwise.

Restrictions on foreign investment

The agreement is not limited to military activity.

It also contains rules intended to restrict certain foreign investments in Greenland.

States and investors from countries that are neither NATO members, NATO partners nor EU members should, as a general rule, not be able to obtain control, significant influence or access to non-public information in particularly sensitive sectors if this could pose a threat to national security or public order.

According to the agreement, “particularly sensitive sectors or activities” include critical infrastructure and resource extraction.

This is not an absolute prohibition either. Activities may be permitted if the parties agree that they do not pose a threat to national security or public order.

Greenland must ensure this through its current or future investment-screening rules and in close cooperation with Danish authorities. Danish authorities must in turn consult closely with US authorities and other partners.

Greenlandic companies should receive contracts where possible

The expanded US military presence is also intended to provide economic benefits for Greenland.

The US commits, to the greatest extent possible, to awarding commercial contracts to Greenlandic suppliers for goods and services connected with the establishment, maintenance and servicing of defence areas.

This includes construction and dismantling projects.

However, this is subject to Greenlandic companies having the capacity and ability to carry out the work. The parties must also update the diplomatic notes from 2020 to support this objective.

Denmark commits to continued military build-up in the Arctic

The US is not the only party assuming commitments.

The agreement states that the Kingdom of Denmark has strengthened and will continue to strengthen its military position in the Arctic.

This is to take place on land, at sea, in the air and in space, including through an increased presence, improved surveillance and closer cooperation with NATO allies.

The parties also support stronger NATO engagement in the Arctic, including increased planning, presence, military exercises and joint intelligence gathering.

Agreement has no expiry date

A key point is the duration of the agreement.

The new agreement has no expiry date.

According to the text, it can only be amended by mutual consent in accordance with the provisions of the original 1951 defence agreement.

There is therefore no automatic expiry date or period after which the new provisions must be renegotiated.

An independent Greenland would also have to take over the agreement

The agreement also contains a specific provision concerning a potentially independent Greenland in the future.

If Greenland exercises its right to self-determination and becomes an independent state, the Danish government and Naalakkersuisut must, according to the agreement, jointly ensure that the new Greenlandic state commits to remaining in NATO – if necessary by applying for membership.

The independent Greenlandic state must also expressly assume all the Kingdom of Denmark’s rights and obligations under the new agreement and the wider defence agreement framework from the date independence takes effect.

The provision therefore establishes that the existing defence cooperation and US rights under the agreement are to continue in the event of Greenlandic independence.

Subject to parliamentary procedures

Although the agreement was signed on 22 September 2026, it does not automatically enter into force upon signature.

It will take effect only once the necessary parliamentary procedures in the Kingdom of Denmark together with Greenland have been completed and the United States has received diplomatic notification of this.

The agreement has been drawn up in Danish, Greenlandic and English. In the event of ambiguity or inconsistency between the versions, the English text will prevail.

Overall, the agreement significantly expands and clarifies the framework for the US military presence in Greenland. The US will be able to expand Pituffik, establish defence areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, seek additional defence areas and unmanned installations, and exercise extensive rights of military movement on Greenlandic territory and in its territorial waters.

At the same time, the agreement formally maintains the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland’s right to self-determination, while a number of new US activities will continue to require mutual agreement between the parties.