Expert Explains: Why US-Denmark pact on Greenland matters for Arctic security

The United States' National Security Strategy (NSS)-2025 has placed the Western Hemisphere at the forefront of American pre-eminence, echoing the "Monroe Doctrine" of 1823. This strategy seeks to keep the region free from hostile foreign incursions or ownership of key assets. A recent diplomatic move in Greenland or a military intervention in Venezuela aligns with this security strategy.

The Pentagon recently restructured its theatre command maps, shifting Greenland from the European Command to the Northern Command, which manages North American homeland defence.

The US-Denmark-Greenland security agreement announced on September 18, 2025, represents a significant turning point with substantial strategic implications. Although the agreement does not fully settle the Greenland question, it represents a major shift in geopolitical dynamics. Greenland, the world's largest island, is around 2.16 million sq km, with about 81% covered by a permanent ice sheet.

Its population of less than 57,000 is predominantly Inuit or of mixed Inuit-Danish heritage, making it one of the least densely populated regions globally.

The agreement grants the US permanent basing rights, overflight privileges, and the ability to take necessary actions to defend Greenland. It also prohibits non-NATO nations from establishing bases or making sensitive investments without US approval. This pact remains valid even if Greenland transitions to full independence from Denmark.

This arrangement could potentially set a new precedent. Both Denmark and Greenland have emphasized that the agreement respects Denmark's sovereignty and Nuuk's right to self-determination. However, it's important to distinguish sovereignty from strategic control, as the agreement does not transfer Greenland to be under US control.