Greenland is open to more US bases, but refuses any loss of sovereignty

Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, confirmed on Tuesday that strengthening the US military presence in the Arctic territory was part of ongoing discussions with Washington, amid persistent tensions over US ambitions in the region.

Speaking in Copenhagen, the Greenlandic leader explained that the United States considered the security and surveillance measures in the Arctic to be insufficient. "Security and an increased military presence in Greenland are therefore part of the discussions," he said.

The statements of the American president Donald Trump Discussions about the need for the United States to acquire or control Greenland continue to fuel diplomatic tensions between Washington, Nuuk and Denmark, of which Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory.

According to several reports, notably by the BBC, the United States is seeking to establish up to three new military bases in the region. These facilities could be developed under the framework of the defense pact signed between Washington and Copenhagen in 1951.

The Greenlandic government, however, says it is ready to discuss enhanced military cooperation while clearly stating that its sovereignty "is not negotiable." Nuuk is thus attempting to find a balance between American strategic interests in the Arctic and the territory's growing aspirations for greater autonomy.

Greenland occupies a major strategic position due to its proximity to Arctic routes, the challenges related to missile defense, and its significant natural resources that are still largely untapped.

Faced with escalating tensions, Greenland, Denmark and the United States engaged in high-level diplomatic negotiations at the beginning of the year in an attempt to defuse the crisis.

These discussions take place against a backdrop of increased geopolitical competition in the Arctic, where major powers seek to strengthen their military and economic presence as melting ice opens up new strategic opportunities.