Greenland, Denmark Sign Defence Deal With US to Strengthen Washington’s Military Presence in Arctic

New York: Greenland and Denmark have signed a new defence agreement with US that will strengthen the US military presence in Greenland and the Arctic region. The agreement is being described as supporting the United States' broader strategic ambitions in the Arctic.

Although US President Donald Trump has backed away from his stated goal of acquiring Greenland, his objective is to gain greater military control over the region. The agreement is aimed at giving the US a greater role in Greenland's security and is being described as paving the way for greater US military involvement in the territory.

Once the agreement comes into effect, the US will be permitted to establish new military bases at two strategically important locations in Greenland. The agreement is based on the 1951 US-Denmark defence agreement.

The agreement states that sovereignty over Greenland will remain with Denmark. The agreement calls for wide US military mobility on Greenland's territory, including "undersea access."

According to the agreement, no non-NATO country will be allowed to set up "its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland," or to have a "persistent" military presence unless the signatories agree otherwise.

The accord "does not have an end date," and if Greenland chooses to become independent, it will agree to remain in NATO and take on Denmark's rights and obligations under the deal. However, it has been criticised as an agreement that would give the US greater scope for military intervention in the territory.

Denmark had opposed Trump's interest in making Greenland part of the United States. The new agreement, however, is being viewed as a means of increasing US military presence in Greenland and advancing its strategic interests in the Arctic.