# US wins Greenland military bases after Trump's takeover threats

> A new defence deal lets America build two Arctic bases while Denmark keeps sovereignty, ending months of tension.
- Title: US wins Greenland military bases after Trump's takeover…
- Summary: A new defence deal lets America build two Arctic bases while Denmark keeps sovereignty, ending months of tension. Trump got expanded US military presence in…
- Keywords: greenland, denmark, united states, donald trump, military bases, arctic, nato, defence agreement, sovereignty, narsarsuaq, mestersvig, pituffik space base
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.com/news/articles/c9dr74g32g8go
- Published: 2026-09-22T21:36:55.805+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: greenland, denmark, united states, donald trump, military bases, arctic, nato, defence agreement, sovereignty, narsarsuaq, mestersvig, pituffik space base
## Trump gets Arctic bases, not Greenland
The US, Denmark and Greenland signed a defence deal allowing America to build two new military bases in the Arctic territory while Denmark keeps full sovereignty.

> we will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations
## Two new bases in Greenland's south and east
The US will establish bases at Narsarsuaq, a former World War Two airport with deep-water access and a large runway, and Mestersvig, a remote outpost currently used by Danish naval forces.
## Greenland and Denmark retain approval power
The deal requires all three parties to mutually agree on the bases' technical details and operations, meaning the US cannot act unilaterally.
## NATO members only in Greenland
The agreement explicitly bars non-NATO countries from establishing military installations or maintaining forces in Greenland, a direct response to concerns about Russian and Chinese presence.
## Greenland stays in NATO if independent
The deal confirms that if Greenland gains independence from Denmark, it will remain a NATO member, protecting its security and the alliance's Arctic presence.
## From takeover threats to diplomacy
Trump spent months threatening to buy or annex Greenland, prompting outcry from European leaders. The deal represents a significant retreat from those demands while still expanding US military presence.
## Updates 75-year-old defence pact
The new agreement replaces the 1951 defence treaty between Denmark and the US, also allowing modernisation and expansion of the existing Pituffik Space Base in Greenland's north-west.

> Seventy-five years ago we entered into an agreement about the defence of Greenland. Today, we're signing an even bigger and better agreement
## Parliaments must still approve the deal
Both Denmark and Greenland's parliaments must ratify the agreement before it takes effect, though Danish political parties have already signalled support.
## Key takeaway

Trump got expanded US military presence in Greenland without acquiring territory, while Greenland secured a say in the arrangement and protection of its self-determination rights.