Trump says 2 new US bases coming to Greenland as deal signed

President Trump said on Tuesday that Greenland will host two new “major” U.S. military bases, expanding Washington’s footprint on the arctic island after months of tensions with Denmark.

“We will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations. We’ll be building two very major military bases,” the president said during his speech at the United Nations .

The U.S. will reestablish a military base in south Greenland in Narsarsuaq and set up the other base on the eastern side of the island in Mestersvig, according to the 10-page agreement released later on Tuesday.

The U.S. military has approximately 150 service members stationed at Pituffik Space Base on the island’s northwest coast, according to U.S. defense officials. The Space Force-operated base supports missile defense, missile warning and space surveillance missions.

Under the agreement, the U.S. will be “allowed to modernize and expand its activities” at the Space Force base.

The U.S. can also establish additional military bases in Greenland and “strengthen its military operations or facilities,” according to the deal.

Denmark and Greenland will “review” U.S. requests to establish unmanned military installations in Greenland outside of current bases under the “accelerated governmental approval procedures,” the agreement said.

The U.S., Denmark and Greenland formally signed the security agreement that would bar any U.S. adversaries — China and Russia — from establishing a military presence on the arctic island or make “sensitive” investments without Washington’s approval.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the deal is “good” for all three sides and “can last forever.”

“Mr. President, you have been very clear. You don’t want adversaries to come too close. I fully agree, and with this deal, they are not,” Frederiksen said on Tuesday. “We are making sure that they will not be allowed to get any control or significant influence in Greenland, and we are making sure that more allies are present in the Arctic at the same time.”

The agreement came after months of ramped-up tensions after Trump’s repeated threats to take over Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Trump once threatened to use force against Greenland, and NATO members took the unprecedented step of sending troops there as a deterrent, claiming it was part of military exercises.

Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands and Finland all dispatched military personnel to the Arctic island in January, showing solidarity with Greenlanders.

“You go back way back in the line of presidents, and almost every president at least mentioned it,” Trump said on Tuesday. “But most of them just mentioned it. Some really wanted to make a deal, and never got done. But we’re getting it done.”