US Plans to Establish Two New Military Bases in Greenland

The United States is preparing to establish two new military installations in Greenland, one by reopening a former Cold War‑era base in the south and the other by creating a presence at an eastern outpost currently used by Danish forces. The sites identified are Narsarsuaq, which was the location of the former Bluie West One base that the United States closed in the 1950s, and Mestersvig, an existing military outpost that presently supports the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, a Danish special‑forces unit.

An agreement to formalise the arrangement is slated to be signed by the United States, Denmark and Greenland on 22 September during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The signing ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (22:30 Singapore time). The text of the agreement has not been released, and officials familiar with the negotiations said the details will be finalised only after the signing.

Denmark has indicated that the agreement will place Arctic security under the oversight of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), rather than leaving it solely to the United States and Denmark. This reflects a broader strategic interest in ensuring collective defence responsibilities in the region.

The population of Narsarsuaq has declined to a few dozen residents since the original U.S. base was shut down. The new U.S. presence is expected to involve the reopening of facilities at the site, while the Mestersvig installation will host a U.S. military presence alongside the existing Danish patrol activities.

Requests for comment from the governments of Denmark and Greenland, as well as from the White House, have not been answered at the time of reporting. The development follows several months of pressure from the U.S. administration to expand American military capabilities in the Arctic.