Greenland’s parliament has approved an agreement expanding the US military presence on the island while preserving Danish sovereignty. The pact also covers activities at Pituffik Space Base. Signed in September after tensions over Donald Trump’s demands to take control of Greenland, it still requires the necessary parliamentary procedures in Denmark before entering into force.
Greenland’s parliament approved the security agreement linking the self-governing Danish territory with Denmark and the United States on 3 November. The pact aims to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, following months of negotiations over the island’s future. Lawmakers voted 16 in favour and none against, with 7 abstaining.[1], [2]
The agreement permits additional US bases and allows activities at Pituffik Space Base, an American military installation in northwest Greenland, to be modernised and expanded. Danish sovereignty remains in place. The terms would also continue to apply if Greenland eventually chose independence. The island, situated between Europe and North America, has a population of 57,000.[1]
US President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed the pact in September alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It followed tensions over Trump’s repeated demands to take control of Greenland. Foreign Minister Mute Egede said the island had pursued dialogue while maintaining its fundamental principles. Entry into force requires the necessary parliamentary procedures in Denmark and Greenland; Danish lawmakers are due to debate it during November. US Senate approval is not required.[1]
