BBC: US and Denmark Secretly Discussing Plans to Add 3 US Military Bases in Greenland
The BBC reports that the US and Denmark are secretly negotiating plans to establish three new US military bases in Greenland. This move aims to expand the US military presence in the Arctic, monitor Russian and Chinese activities in the North Atlantic, and address the diplomatic fallout from former President Trump's past suggestion of acquiring Greenland.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 15:02
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 15:32 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 16:19 (47 min after Collected)
Central News
(Central News Agency, Washington, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that multiple officials familiar with the matter revealed that the United States has been conducting regular negotiations with Denmark to expand the US military deployment in Greenland, and progress has been made in bilateral talks in recent months.
The report pointed out that US officials are seeking to add three new bases in the southern part of this semi-autonomous Danish territory. At the same time, they are working to resolve the diplomatic crisis triggered by US President Trump's threat to seize Greenland by force.
Trump stated in January this year that the United States should "own" Greenland to prevent Russia or China from seizing it. He said this could be achieved through "simple means" or "tough means."
The White House confirmed that the US government is holding high-level talks with Greenland and Denmark but declined to comment on the details of the negotiations. A White House official told the BBC that the US government is very optimistic that the negotiations are moving in the right direction.
Denmark had previously expressed willingness to discuss adding US military bases in Greenland, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that negotiations with the United States are underway. A spokesperson stated: "Diplomatic communication with the United States is currently ongoing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not disclose further details at this stage."
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, US officials proposed an arrangement to formally designate these three new military bases as US sovereign territory.
Officials interviewed by the BBC stated that these bases will be located in southern Greenland and will primarily be responsible for monitoring the North Atlantic waters of the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap, keeping track of potential Russian and Chinese maritime activities.
Sources indicated that no formal agreement has been reached between the two sides, and the final number of bases may change. One of the new bases may be located in Narsarsuaq, on the site of a former US military base with a small airport.
This delicate diplomatic effort is led by senior State Department official Michael Needham, who has been tasked with formulating an agreement that satisfies Trump while respecting Denmark's red lines for protecting national borders.
A senior diplomat familiar with the negotiations stated that Needham is "leading the charge" on the Greenland issue. This person said that the US government is handling the matter "very professionally" behind the scenes.
Multiple sources said that since mid-January, teams from both sides have met at least five times. Needham is usually accompanied by one or two US officials from the State Department or the National Security Council (NSC). His counterparts in the talks include Danish Ambassador to the US Jesper Moller Sorensen and Greenland's highest diplomat in Washington, Jacob Isbosethsen. (Compiled by: Li Peishan) 1150512
(Central News Agency, Washington, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that multiple officials familiar with the matter revealed that the United States has been conducting regular negotiations with Denmark to expand the US military deployment in Greenland, and progress has been made in bilateral talks in recent months.
The report pointed out that US officials are seeking to add three new bases in the southern part of this semi-autonomous Danish territory. At the same time, they are working to resolve the diplomatic crisis triggered by US President Trump's threat to seize Greenland by force.
Trump stated in January this year that the United States should "own" Greenland to prevent Russia or China from seizing it. He said this could be achieved through "simple means" or "tough means."
The White House confirmed that the US government is holding high-level talks with Greenland and Denmark but declined to comment on the details of the negotiations. A White House official told the BBC that the US government is very optimistic that the negotiations are moving in the right direction.
Denmark had previously expressed willingness to discuss adding US military bases in Greenland, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that negotiations with the United States are underway. A spokesperson stated: "Diplomatic communication with the United States is currently ongoing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not disclose further details at this stage."
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, US officials proposed an arrangement to formally designate these three new military bases as US sovereign territory.
Officials interviewed by the BBC stated that these bases will be located in southern Greenland and will primarily be responsible for monitoring the North Atlantic waters of the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap, keeping track of potential Russian and Chinese maritime activities.
Sources indicated that no formal agreement has been reached between the two sides, and the final number of bases may change. One of the new bases may be located in Narsarsuaq, on the site of a former US military base with a small airport.
This delicate diplomatic effort is led by senior State Department official Michael Needham, who has been tasked with formulating an agreement that satisfies Trump while respecting Denmark's red lines for protecting national borders.
A senior diplomat familiar with the negotiations stated that Needham is "leading the charge" on the Greenland issue. This person said that the US government is handling the matter "very professionally" behind the scenes.
Multiple sources said that since mid-January, teams from both sides have met at least five times. Needham is usually accompanied by one or two US officials from the State Department or the National Security Council (NSC). His counterparts in the talks include Danish Ambassador to the US Jesper Moller Sorensen and Greenland's highest diplomat in Washington, Jacob Isbosethsen. (Compiled by: Li Peishan) 1150512