US, Denmark Near Deal on Expanded Military Presence in Greenland
Washington and Copenhagen are closing in on a deal that would give the US military a broader footprint in Greenland, though not outright ownership.
The United States and Denmark are nearing a potential agreement on Greenland that would expand the American military's presence on the island, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
The emerging arrangement would fall far short of President Donald Trump's stated ambition of acquiring Greenland outright, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Even so, it could give Washington a more substantial footprint on a territory that has drawn Trump's interest for close to a decade.
According to the people, the two sides have discussed arrangements that would allow Greenlandic territory to be used for the Golden Dome, a large-scale missile defense shield the Trump administration is seeking to build to protect US territory. One of the people said the discussions also cover steps to curb Chinese presence and influence on the island.
An announcement could come within days or weeks, the people said, though they cautioned that a deal is not guaranteed. It remains unclear whether, or how firmly, Trump supports the emerging agreement.
Greenland is a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and hosts a longstanding US military installation.