The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a defence agreement on Tuesday allowing Washington to establish two new military bases in Greenland and expand its existing presence at Pituffik Space Base, while reaffirming Danish sovereignty and Greenland's right to self-determination.
The agreement, signed at the UN General Assembly in New York, follows months of tensions sparked by US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to take control of the semi-autonomous Arctic territory.
The deal updates a 1951 US-Danish defence agreement and permits new US defence areas at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig on the east coast.
Narsarsuaq has deep-water access and a large runway, while Mestersvig is a remote outpost used by a Danish naval dog sled unit.
The agreement does not specify troop numbers or a timeline for establishing the bases, with technical details requiring mutual agreement among the parties.
US aircraft and vessels will receive flyover, landing and undersea access across Greenland, including its territorial waters.
Washington will also be permitted to modernise and expand operations at Pituffik, currently its only active base on the island.
The agreement bars non-NATO states from establishing military installations or maintaining a persistent military presence in Greenland.
Trump said the United States would immediately begin developing a larger military presence in appropriate locations.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the agreement a milestone and stressed that it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the agreement as a "win-win-win".
The pact supports a stronger NATO presence in the Arctic and requires Denmark to further strengthen its regional security posture.
If Greenland becomes independent, the agreement calls for it to remain within NATO, including through a membership application if necessary.
The agreement does not address US investment in Greenland's mining sector.
However, it restricts investors outside NATO members, NATO partners or the European Union from gaining control or major influence over sensitive sectors.
The parliaments of Denmark and Greenland must approve the agreement before it takes effect.
The pact has no end date and can be amended only by mutual consent.