US-Denmark military deal for Greenland affirms Arctic sovereignty protections

In the long contest over the Arctic's future, the United States and Denmark have formalized a military agreement that will deepen American presence in Greenland — a self-governing territory whose ice, minerals, and geography have made it one of the most coveted pieces of land on Earth. Announced in September 2026, the deal reflects the accelerating scramble for influence in a region reshaped by climate change and great-power rivalry. Danish and Greenlandic officials insist sovereignty remains intact, yet for the 56,000 people who call Greenland home, the question of who truly holds power over