The visit follows the Sept. 22 pact authorizing two additional US military sites at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig and expansion of the Pituffik Space Base. Greenland remains under Danish sovereignty. The permanent agreement bars non-NATO military bases and gives Washington a say over sensitive foreign investment. Rubio said it also provides access for new facilities supporting a North American missile defense shield.
The diplomatic push comes after Berlingske reported that the nine months of Greenland negotiations nearly broke down, with the threat of a US takeover lingering throughout. The newspaper also reported that US negotiators proposed giving all Greenlanders access to Fox News to counter what the Americans regarded as “fake news” about the US.