U.S., Denmark and Greenland plan two new American military sites on the island
The United States plans to reopen the Cold War–era Narsarsuaq base in southern Greenland and establish a new site at Mestersvig on the east coast, under an agreement with Denmark and Greenland expected to be signed in New York.
The United States is preparing to expand its military presence in Greenland by reopening a former base in the south and setting up a new site on the island’s east coast.
Under an agreement with Denmark and Greenland expected to be signed on Tuesday in New York, Washington plans to revive the Narsarsuaq base in southern Greenland and establish another facility at Mestersvig on the east coast. Mestersvig is currently used by Denmark’s Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, which operates across Greenland’s remote Arctic terrain.
These new sites will add to an existing U.S. footprint that already includes Thule Air Base in northern Greenland, long used for early warning and missile‑tracking missions.
The deal follows months of tension linked to earlier U.S. interest in Greenland during the Trump era, including a proposal by then‑President Donald Trump to purchase the island. That episode highlighted local concerns about outside influence and the balance of power among Washington, Copenhagen and Greenland’s own authorities.
By placing Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig under a formal agreement with both Denmark and Greenland, the United States is seeking additional locations for aircraft and other operations along key Arctic routes.
Signals to watch next are the final text of the agreement, any limits it sets on how the new sites can be used, and political and military reactions from other Arctic states that monitor U.S. force posture in the region.
Sources
- OSINT