The security agreement reached by the United States, Denmark and the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland is to be formally signed in New York during the General Assembly, the Liberty Times and others reported. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the timing.

Under the agreement the United States holds rights of military presence, base use and overflight in Greenland and may build additional facilities if needed. A clause bars non-NATO states from establishing bases or stationing forces there.

According to American officials the agreement carries no expiry date. Washington's reading is that it would remain in force even if Greenland were to separate from Denmark and become independent.

Denmark and Greenland's self-government have stated repeatedly that the agreement does not compromise sovereignty. Debate continues within Greenland over the balance between security guarantees and self-rule.

Routes Opened by Melting Ice

Arctic shipping lanes and seabed resources have become more accessible as the climate warms. An Arctic route linking Europe and Asia would cut distances sharply against passage through Suez. Greenland sits where the North Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean.

Over the same period Chinese polar research vessels have widened their range in Arctic waters, and some in the United States read this as extending beyond scientific survey into resource and military positioning. China describes itself as a near-Arctic state and asserts freedom of navigation and research.

Greenland is understood to hold rare earths and other mineral deposits. Extraction costs, environmental rules and questions of local consent have kept actual development slow.

The Arctic has long been called a region where cooperation works as an exception, because scientific and environmental work through the Arctic Council stayed separate from political conflict. This agreement leaves open the question of whether that separation holds.