US in closely-guarded talks to open new bases in Greenland

Negotiating teams have met at least five times since mid-January, with a small working group in Washington driving the talks. Michael Needham leads the U.S. effort, accompanied by State Department or National Security Council officials; counterparts include Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, and Greenland’s top diplomat in Washington, Jacob Isbosethsen.

Officials described the talks as professional and conducted away from public scrutiny, aiming to balance Washington’s objectives with Denmark’s redlines and Greenlandic interests.

The negotiations occur within a broader Arctic security context and reflect ongoing cooperation between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland as part of NATO relations and regional strategy.

Nielsen stressed that discussions are ongoing and should proceed with respect, noting Greenland is not for sale and that talks should be conducted without public posturing.

Michael Needham is leading the talks for the United States, with Danish and Greenlandic officials such as Jesper Møller Sørensen and Jacob Isbosethsen participating; Jeff Landry, Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, has not taken part in the negotiations.

Negotiations occur within the framework of the longstanding 1951 U.S.-Denmark security pact, which allows expanded U.S. operations with Danish approval and emphasizes protection of Denmark’s borders.

The United States currently operates Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a single base today, down from about 17 facilities during the Cold War; Pituffik monitors missiles for NORAD but is not configured for maritime surveillance.

Officials emphasized that there has been no talk of seizing control of Greenland; Denmark and NATO have publicly rejected such ideas.

Proposals emphasize basing in southern Greenland, with one likely site at Narsarsuaq, on the site of a former U.S. base. Other sites would leverage existing infrastructure such as airfields or ports to reduce costs.

U.S. officials floated an arrangement in which the three new bases could be formally designated as U.S. sovereign territory, though no formal agreement had been reached and the total number of bases remained unsettled.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said negotiations had 'taken some steps in the right direction' and described the discussions as ongoing, noting he could not disclose specifics.

Denmark’s foreign ministry confirmed that talks with the United States about expanding American military bases in Greenland were taking place, adding that they would not provide further details at the time.

The White House acknowledged ongoing high-level talks with Denmark and Greenland but did not disclose details of the discussions.

Former President Donald Trump stated in January that the US should 'own' Greenland to prevent it from being taken by Russia or China, describing the potential outcome as the 'easy way' or the 'hard way,' sparking a diplomatic crisis that highlighted tensions within NATO and with Denmark.

The talks are being pursued within the framework of the decades-old 1951 security pact between the US and Denmark; the Danish government must approve any expansions in Greenland, and officials have said there is no plan to seize Greenland, a notion publicly rejected by Denmark and NATO.

Trump's special envoy to Greenland, Governor Jeff Landry, has not taken part in the negotiations and is largely absent from the diplomatic process.

Pituffik Space Base remains the US's only current base in Greenland; it monitors missiles for NORAD but is not configured to conduct maritime surveillance.

Denmark's foreign ministry confirmed ongoing talks with the US but declined to provide further details; Danish authorities noted that any expansions require Denmark's approval under the decades-old security framework.

Some talks have floated designating the bases as US sovereign territory.

US officials are seeking to open three new military bases in southern Greenland, with one likely located at Narsarsuaq on the site of a former US base; other bases would likely be at sites with existing infrastructure to lower costs.

General Gregory Guillot, head of US Northern Command, testified that the US was seeking to open new bases in Greenland.

Negotiations have progressed in recent months, with the teams meeting at least five times since mid-January. Michael Needham leads the effort on Greenland, usually accompanied by one or two State Department or National Security Council officials; Denmark’s ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen, and Greenland’s top diplomat in Washington, Jacob Isbosethsen, participate.

President Donald Trump said the US should 'own' Greenland to prevent Russia or China from taking it, noting it could happen the 'easy way' or 'the hard way'.