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The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement in New York on 22 September to expand the US military presence on Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, and was attended by President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The agreement paves the way for the United States to add two more bases to the existing Pituffik Space Base: Narsarsuaq in the south, where the United States plans to return to a Cold War-era base, and Mestersvig on the east coast, which is currently a Danish dog-sled patrol unit. It also allows the United States to install the Golden Dome missile defence system in Greenland, given the island's position on the Arctic route between North America and Europe. The agreement also bars countries outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from establishing bases in Greenland and restricts strategically sensitive investment from countries the United States regards as rivals, particularly China and Russia. At the same time, the agreement states clearly that Greenland remains Danish, that sovereignty is not transferred to the United States, and that it will remain in force even if Greenland gains independence in the future, with key conditions concerning continued NATO membership.

President Donald Trump announced a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would give the United States a permanent role in the Arctic territory's security and prevent adversaries from establishing military bases or making sensitive investments without U.S. approval. Trump said the United States would begin developing a larger military presence on the island, and the agreement is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, though its full terms have not been released. Morningstar analysts led by Christian Aufsatz said Greenland's strategic importance is likely to be realized sooner through its military position and potential Arctic trade routes than through its mineral resources, noting the island's role in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap, a key maritime corridor linking North American and European markets. The commentary said greater Arctic navigation could eventually create routes shortening travel between Asia, Europe and North America, increasing the potential for Greenland to serve as a location for deep-water ports, refueling facilities and logistics stations, while cautioning that climate-related uncertainty remains substantial. Morningstar also said Greenland has offshore hydrocarbon basins and rock formations that could host lithium, copper and rare earth elements, but stressed that geological potential does not guarantee commercially viable resources, as Greenland has not achieved the same exploration success as other regions and does not currently have significant mineable mineral deposits or proven oil and gas reserves ready for extraction.