US, Denmark and Greenland expand military cooperation with Arctic security pact

The United States, Denmark and Greenland have signed an agreement that significantly expands American military access to Greenland, amending the 1951 defence pact between Washington and Copenhagen. The deal permits new US defence areas on the island and the deployment of a missile defence system, while explicitly reaffirming Greenland's right to self-determination and Denmark's continued sovereignty over the territory, following a period of tension over the island's strategic future. European leaders swiftly welcomed the agreement. European Council President Antonio Costa praised it as grounded in 'respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination,' while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it underscored the Arctic's strategic importance, a point reinforced by her recent visit to the island. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the signing 'an important step for security in the Arctic and North Atlantic,' saying greater regional security was essential 'for Europe and North America alike.' The agreement follows growing competition among major powers over the Arctic's resources and shipping routes, and is widely seen as an attempt to formally settle a standoff between Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk over the island's strategic role, while providing reassurance that Greenland's autonomy and Danish sovereignty remain intact.