A new trilateral agreement on Greenland allows the United States to modernise and expand the Pituffik Space Base on the island, as well as establish two new ones, according to the text of the agreement released by the White House.
“The United States shall be allowed to modernize and expand its activities in Pituffik Space Base. The United States shall be allowed to establish an additional Defense Area at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig in accordance with modalities and technical details to be mutually agreed by the Parties,” the document says. It was signed on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, which is currently taking place in New York.
At the same time, the document states that the establishment of additional military bases is possible only with the agreement of all parties. “The United States may establish additional defense areas in Greenland and strengthen its military operations or facilities,” the document says. It notes that “Either Party may identify the need for a new Defense Area for the defense of the North Atlantic Treaty area, Greenland, and the American continent” and submit a corresponding proposal.
“The Parties shall immediately convene to engage in consultations through the Permanent Committee to decide implementation details based on mutual agreement. If no agreement is reached within 90 days at the Permanent Committee, consultations shall escalate to the deputy minister level, followed by the minister level,” the agreement states.
It also emphasises that any foreign military presence on the island is possible only with the consent of all three parties. “No state that is not a member of NATO shall be allowed to establish its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland nor shall they be allowed a persistent presence of military forces in Greenland, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties,” the document says.
