United States Plans Expanded Military Presence in Greenland

U.S. special envoy Jeff Landry, also the governor of Louisiana, said the United States should re‑impose a stronger military footprint on Greenland. Landry made the remarks during his first visit to Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital, after taking up his post in December 2025. He cited President Donald Trump’s call for an increased strategic presence and noted talks about establishing three new bases in the island’s southern region.

During the Cold War the United States operated 17 installations across Greenland, but most were closed, leaving only the Pituffik base in the far north. Greenland’s prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, said the territory’s position toward the United States “had not moved an inch” and that no softening of the U.S. stance had been observed. Denmark previously rejected proposals for a U.S. purchase of Greenland and the issue was set aside after Copenhagen agreed to host NATO‑linked U.S. bases on the island.