Keep out: why Greenland is the US military’s new eyes in the Arctic on China

Washington’s proposed military bases and expanded defence presence in Greenland will be akin to a “keep out” sign against potential Arctic military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, according to analysts.

The US, Denmark and Greenland signed a defence deal on Tuesday that allows Washington to build two new military bases on the world’s largest island, while reaffirming Denmark’s sovereignty over it.

The deal – which updates and amends a 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the US – allows expansion and modernisation of the Pituffik US Space Force Base in northwestern Greenland and for additional military bases to be established in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, though they will still require approval from Greenland and Denmark.

Narsarsuaq is a settlement located in southern Greenland with a former civilian airport and US airbase that was closed in 1958. Its population is only a few dozen people.