New York: The United States is set to expand its military footprint in the Arctic by establishing two new bases in Greenland under a landmark agreement with Denmark and the Greenlandic government, sources familiar with the matter have confirmed. The trilateral pact, scheduled for signing on Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, effectively places Arctic regional defence under the wider purview of NATO.

According to sources speaking on condition of anonymity, the agreement includes re establishing a military presence at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland formerly the Cold War era US base 'Bluie West One' and establishing new operations at Mestersvig, an eastern military outpost currently utilised by the Danish Sirius Dog Sled Patrol. Whilst exact operational details remain confidential until the formal signing at 14:30 GMT, the White House affirmed that the deal would "secure and defend the security of Greenland and the United States."

The accord follows months of heightened diplomatic tension triggered by US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly advocated for American control over the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Threatening rhetoric early in the year sparked a diplomatic crisis within NATO, compelling Copenhagen and Nuuk to enter negotiations to defuse Washington's pressure. While the US maintained 17 installations and over 10,000 personnel across Greenland during the Cold War, its active military presence had since dwindled to roughly 150 personnel stationed at Pituffik Space Base. Danish officials emphasised that bringing the new sites under NATO oversight preserves regional sovereignty whilst strengthening northern flank security.