# U.S. expands Arctic military footprint in Greenland deal

> Trump, Denmark and Greenland sign agreement allowing U.S. to build new military bases while respecting Danish sovereignty.
- Title: U.S. expands Arctic military footprint in Greenland deal
- Summary: Trump, Denmark and Greenland sign agreement allowing U.S. to build new military bases while respecting Danish sovereignty. The U.S., Denmark and Greenland…
- Keywords: donald trump, greenland, denmark, arctic, military bases, nato, security agreement, china, russia, business, finance, expands
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/22/trump-greenland-security-deal-military-bases-.html
- Author: Kevin Breuninger,Anniek Bao
- Published: 2026-09-22T05:00:18+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: donald trump, greenland, denmark, arctic, military bases, nato, security agreement, china, russia, business, finance
## Trump signs Greenland security deal
President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed a security agreement on September twenty-second, twenty twenty-six at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
## Deal expands U.S. military presence
The agreement allows the U.S. to expand its military presence in Greenland while maintaining the sovereignty of Denmark and its autonomous island territory. Trump said at the signing, "This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody and for Greenland."

> This is tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody and for Greenland.
## Three military bases in Greenland
The deal builds on a nineteen fifty-one defense agreement and lets the U.S. expand Pituffik Space Base and establish two new bases at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig. The agreement leaves the door open for additional defense areas to be built.
## Trump's earlier Greenland push
Trump had repeatedly insisted during his second term that the U.S. must take control of Greenland for national security reasons, at times declining to rule out using military force. His demands alarmed Greenlanders and opened a rift between the U.S. and NATO allies.
## Trump claims deal addresses concerns
Trump announced the deal on Truth Social on Friday, saying it would give the U.S. what he described as "permanent control over security, and all other needs" in the Danish island territory. He later asserted it addresses "ALL of our many U.S. concerns" at no cost to the U.S.

> permanent control over security, and all other needs
## Deal bars China and Russia
The agreement bars non-NATO nations such as China and Russia from establishing a military footprint in Greenland. It also prohibits sensitive investments by non-allies that may pose national security threats to the region.
## Arctic competition intensifies
Retreating sea ice has opened new shipping lanes and exposed mineral deposits across the Arctic, drawing the U.S., Russia and China to bolster their presence in the region and raising concerns about international rivals competing for influence.
## Key takeaway

The U.S., Denmark and Greenland signed a security deal on September twenty-second, twenty twenty-six, allowing America to expand military bases in the Arctic territory while maintaining Danish sovereignty.