The United States is preparing to reopen a former Cold War military base in southern Greenland and establish a military presence at a second site on the eastern coast, according to three sources familiar with the matter speaking to Reuters.
The provisions are included in a new security deal between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland, which is expected to be signed on Tuesday in New York on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly.
Under the terms of the agreement, American forces will re-establish a presence at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and at Mestersvig, a remote military outpost located on the island's eastern coast.
Base Locations in Southern and Eastern Greenland
The first site, Narsarsuaq, saw its local population drop to a few dozen residents after the United States military closed its Bluie West One airbase there during the 1950s. Established during World War II as a staging post for transatlantic flights, the site later served as a primary transportation center for southern Greenland.
The second site, Mestersvig, is an isolated military post on the eastern coast of Greenland. The facility is currently used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, a specialized unit of the Danish armed forces that conducts long range reconnaissance patrols across the uninhabited polar terrain of northern and eastern Greenland.
The text of the tripartite agreement has not yet been published. The three sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity stated that the specific details of the agreement will not be finalized until the document is signed on Tuesday.
Governments in Denmark and Greenland, as well as the White House, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the base reopening plans.
Danish officials have stated that the new agreement officially integrates Arctic security into the broader NATO framework, ensuring that defense in the region is managed collectively rather than remaining exclusively a bilateral responsibility between Washington and Copenhagen.
Diplomatic Pressure and NATO Framework
The agreement follows months of diplomatic pressure from United States President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly stated that he seeks control of Greenland. President Trump has at times refused to rule out using military or economic power to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Statements made by President Trump peaked in January, triggering a diplomatic crisis within the NATO alliance. The pressure led officials in Denmark and Greenland to enter negotiations with Washington to de-escalate tensions and reach a formal compromise.
On Friday, President Trump announced that the United States, Denmark, and Greenland had concluded an agreement to strengthen the American military presence on the island. However, specific details regarding the creation or reopening of individual bases remained unknown until now.
History of American Military Footprint
During the Cold War, the United States maintained 17 military installations in Greenland and deployed more than 10,000 military personnel across the island. These facilities formed a major component of Western air defense and early warning radar surveillance in the Arctic corridor.
Today, the United States maintains only one active installation on the island, Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. Formerly known as Thule Air Base, the remote polar facility is currently staffed by approximately 150 American military personnel.
Greenland is the world's largest island and an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, exercising self-government while Copenhagen retains responsibility for foreign policy and national defense.
The new tripartite agreement is expected to expand the United States military footprint in Greenland significantly. The full extent and exact nature of the expanded military presence will become clear once the official terms of the agreement are released to the public.
