Old Greenland defence deal sets shared security duties and US access
Tuesday 22nd September 2026 on 12:31 in
Denmark
A 1951 defence agreement gives the United States and Denmark shared responsibility for security and defence in Greenland, while allowing US military activity under certain conditions, DR reports. The agreement has been highlighted alongside a new draft agreement involving Denmark, Greenland and the United States.
Denmark and the United States signed the original agreement in June 1951. It was updated in 2004, when Greenland became a co-signatory. Three of its key provisions are:
US and Denmark share responsibility for security
Article I says the United States and Denmark must combine their efforts for collective defence, the preservation of peace and security, and the development of their ability to resist armed attack. Each country must take the steps necessary to carry out the individual and joint tasks for which it is responsible in Greenland under NATO plans.
In practice, this means the United States and Denmark share responsibility for security and defence in Greenland. The agreement also states that both the Danish and American flags must fly over the defence areas.
US forces can operate freely, subject to conditions
Under Article II, the United States has the right to build facilities, station and house personnel, control the operations and movements of ships and aircraft, and generally adapt areas for military use.
These rights apply only if they do not limit the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark over the defence areas or the Danish authorities’ inherent right to travel throughout Greenland.
The Danish government also reserves the right to use a defence area in cooperation with the United States for the defence of Greenland.
The United States currently has one base in Greenland, Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base. Denmark’s Defence Intelligence Service estimated in September 2025 that about 150 US soldiers, in addition to civilian employees, were stationed there.
Over time, the United States has had more than 30 facilities and bases and more than 10,000 personnel stationed in Greenland, according to the Danish Defence. The facilities and bases have gradually been closed or transferred to Denmark or Greenland.
The agreement lasts as long as NATO exists
Article XIV states that the agreement will remain in force for the same period as the North Atlantic Treaty, the treaty that formed the basis for the NATO alliance on 4 April 1949.
The agreement is therefore linked to the NATO treaty and, in effect, remains valid for as long as NATO exists.
Several supplementary agreements have been concluded since the original agreement was signed. One established a forum where the three countries meet annually to brief one another on military activities in Greenland.
The Igaliku Agreement, signed in the southern Greenlandic settlement of Igaliku in August 2004, made Greenland an independent co-signatory and formal partner in the defence agreement. The United States also confirmed that it would consult and inform the Danish and Greenlandic governments about defence activities.