Trump announced construction of "very large" military bases in Greenland. Agreement signed

The United States will build two “very large” military bases in Greenland as part of an “unprecedented agreement” between America and Greenland and Denmark. American President Donald Trump stated this during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly; the White House published the video on YouTube.

He noted that the agreement was possible to broker on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and that it provides the United States with “permanent control over security and all needs” on Greenlandic territory.

“We will have all the necessary means to defend the American continent, as well as Europe and other regions. No opponent of the United States will ever be allowed to establish a military presence in Greenland or make significant investments there without our direct written permission,” Trump said.

Reuters reported that the agreement allows increasing the U.S. military presence on Greenland and could resolve a standoff over the strategically located island, rich in minerals. It does not conform to Trump’s previous demands to annex Greenland to U.S. territory to counter the growing presence of Russia and China in the Arctic.

Trump signed the agreement together with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Frederiksen during a trilateral ceremony held after Trump’s UN speech. Frederiksen described the agreement as one that could “last forever,” and noted that it underscores NATO’s importance and respects Greenland’s right to self-determination. Nielsen, for his part, emphasized the importance of NATO in the Arctic, according to the publication.

Earlier, the agency reported that under the agreement the United States plans to revive a Cold War–era military base in southern Greenland and to build another on the island’s eastern coast. Sources told the media that this concerns a military base in the settlement of Narsarsuaq and a military outpost at Mestersvig.