Tag: Greenland

BBC News, May-September, 2026

The US has been holding regular negotiations with Denmark to expand its military presence in Greenland, according to multiple officials familiar with the discussions, with talks between both sides progressing in recent months.

US officials are seeking to open three new bases in the south of the territory, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.

Current Negotiations Overview

• Proposed Bases: The U.S. has discussed establishing up to three new military bases in southern Greenland to monitor maritime activity by Russia and China in the GIUK Gap (the area between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK).
• Sovereignty Debate: U.S. officials have floated designating the proposed new locations as sovereign U.S. territory, a sensitive proposal given Greenland’s autonomous status within the Kingdom of Denmark.
• Existing Presence: The U.S. currently operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, which is vital for missile warning and space surveillance.
• Current Status: A joint working group involving the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland remains active as of September 2026, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressing optimism that a peaceful resolution and agreement can be reached. No final deal or approval for new bases has been finalized.

Denmark has previously shown willingness to discuss more American military bases in Greenland, and its Foreign Ministry confirmed talks with Washington are ongoing.

“There is an ongoing diplomatic track with the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not go into further detail at this time,” a spokesperson from Denmark’s ministry said.

US officials have proposed an arrangement in which the three new bases would be designated as sovereign US territory, mainly focused on monitoring possible Russian and Chinese maritime activity in the region.