US Could Acquire Base Area in Greenland
Reports suggest that the US might purchase a sovereign base area in Greenland, which would become permanently US territory under terms of a deal facilitated by NATO at a gathering in Davos.
The proposed agreement outlines that the US would establish a base similar to the British military base located in Cyprus. While these bases aren’t situated on British soil, the UK holds about 3 percent ownership of these enclaves, which are internationally acknowledged as British Overseas Territories.
According to some officials who were part of a NATO meeting—focused on Arctic security and the need to bolster US presence in Greenland—the framework suggested by President Trump resembles the Cyprus model. One attendee reportedly referred to it as a “vision” for such a base, while another described it as being “modeled” after the British base in Cyprus.
As reported by a British conservative newspaper, the potential deal doesn’t entail selling all of Greenland to the US. Instead, it would involve establishing a sovereign base akin to the British model on Cyprus. The report indicates that if the American sector in Greenland were sufficiently large and well-placed, it could be utilized not only for national security but also to extract valuable mineral resources.
Interestingly, acquiring just 1 percent of Greenland—which is largely uninhabited outside a handful of towns—would provide a base area comparable in size to the entire state of Maryland.
Trump expressed optimism about the agreement discussed, hinting that it would include “perpetual” terms rather than a lease, and noted that other parties would have an interest in both Golden Dome and mineral rights.
He remarked that the deal “gives us everything we need” and described it as one that “everyone is very happy with.”
Trump added, “I think this would be a very good deal for the US and for them. We intend to cooperate on issues that concern the Arctic and Greenland as well. It’s about security—definitely about security…It’s a bit complicated, but we’ll work it out as we move forward.”
The UK currently operates two military bases on Cyprus: Akrotiri in the south and Dhekelia in the east. Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960, but the UK kept control over these strategic military areas.
Today, Akrotiri remains a vital British military site, playing a key role in reconnaissance and military operations, including recent missions against groups like the Islamic State and the Houthis. The island effectively serves as a permanent military foothold in the eastern Mediterranean.
