Arctic · Wednesday, September 23, 2026
U.S., Denmark, and Greenland sign deal expanding defense access in Greenland
The File desk · Sep 23, 2026, 10:28 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed (White House full text + release, Sept. 22, 2026)
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York, the United States, the Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland signed an agreement amending and supplementing the April 27, Legal instrument A NATO-linked defense pact that updates U.S. basing and access in Greenland, allows new Defense Areas by agreement, bars non-NATO military bases unless the parties agree, and screens sensitive non-allied investment. It has no end date and needs Danish and Greenlandic parliamentary steps before it takes effect.1951 Defense of Greenland Agreement as amended and supplemented Sept. 22, 2026
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York, the United States, the Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland signed an agreement amending and supplementing the April 27, Legal instrument A NATO-linked defense pact that updates U.S. basing and access in Greenland, allows new Defense Areas by agreement, bars non-NATO military bases unless the parties agree, and screens sensitive non-allied investment. It has no end date and needs Danish and Greenlandic parliamentary steps before it takes effect.1951 Defense of Greenland Agreement as amended and supplemented Sept. 22, 2026
The text lets the United States modernize and expand work at Pituffik Space Base and add Defense Areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig under modalities the parties agree.
It bars any state outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from establishing manned or unmanned military installations or a persistent military presence in Greenland unless the parties agree.
It also screens control or sensitive access by investors from outside NATO, NATO partners, and the European Union in particularly sensitive sectors.
The deal has no end date. It enters into force after Danish and Greenlandic parliamentary procedures and a diplomatic note to the United States.
A White House release framed the signing with President Trump and Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Exact dates of Danish and Greenlandic parliamentary completion; detailed modalities for Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig still to be mutually agreed.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Agreement … to Amend and Supplement the Agreement of 27 April 1951 … on the Defense of Greenland
The White House · September 22, 2026
Done at New York on the 22nd day of September, 2026 … The United States shall be allowed to modernize and expand its activities in Pituffik Space Base
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/09/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-kingdom-of-denmark-together-with-the-government-of-greenland/
Source 2
President Trump Inks Historic Arctic Security Agreement
The White House · September 22, 2026
Today, President Donald J. Trump joined leaders of Denmark and Greenland to sign an unprecedented agreement …
https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/09/president-trump-inks-historic-arctic-security-agreement/