The US-Greenland-Denmark deal

• 

These are the important provisions of the new US- Greenland-Denmark deal signed this week!

The agreement says it respects Greenland's right to self-determination. Under the accord, the US must act in ​a way that ​respects Greenlandic society ⁠and the Greenlandic way of life.

That means that Greenland will continue to screen investments to enforce those rules. For example, the population of Greenland has so far voted to not allow the exploitation of major mineral sources in their territory.

The agreement does not address US interests or ​investments into Greenland's mining and resources sector, but it prohibits investors ​from ⁠outside NATO member states, NATO partners or the European Union from having control or major influence over sensitive sectors in Greenland.

The pact has no end date and can be amended ​only by unanimous consent by the three parties.

On the military, the components of the deal expand the 1951 US-Danish pact on Greenland's defence in which US craft including planes and vessels get flyover, landing and undersea rights ​in all of Greenland, including territorial waters.

However, the new deal now includes the scenario in which if Greenland may become an independent country, the new state ‌shall remain ⁠in NATO.

For inmediate effects, the ​agreement allows the United States to establish two new military bases: one at Narsarsuaq ​in southern Greenland and the other at Mestersvig on the east ⁠coast. And to expand Pituffik Space Base, currently its only active base ​on the island with around 150 soldiers.