US begins secret talks for new military bases in Greenland in stealth US takeover of island after Trump invasion threat

SECRET talks are underway over the development of at least three new US military bases in Greenland.

Washington’s top planning team is in discussions with Denmark over ramping up its presence on the snow-covered island, just months after Donald Trump threatened to invade.

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Secret talks have begun over the development of at least three new US military bases in GreenlandCredit: Reuters

JD Vance stood at the US’s only base currently on Greenland – the Pituffik Space BaseCredit: AP

The US wants to be granted permanent access to three new bases to set up airfields and ports, according to a senior general.

Two of those being negotiated over are abandoned former US military bases already on the world’s largest island.

Discussions with Denmark are taking place with both the Pentagon and the State Department, General Gregory Guillot told Congress.

The stealthy plans would mark a major step for the US amid Trump’s demands to have sovereignty over the island to protect it from US enemies such as Russia and China.

Greenland sits in a crucial zone in the Arctic between North America, Europe and Asia and oil and gas reserves, uranium to power nuclear plants and minerals to help run electronics all sit among the ice.

Earlier this year, Trump said he could be forced to take the Danish overseas territory “the hard way” if the Danes did not hand over control of the island.

The latest update on the secret negotiations are likely to be just the start of a lengthy set of talks.

They are believed to be being held under a 1951 defence pact between Denmark and the US that allows for the building and expansion of military sites in Greenland.

If the US was to gain a trio of vital safe havens on the island then it would be the first military expansion on Greenland in decades.

They currently have just a single base in the Pituffik Space Base which sits on Greenland’s north-west coast.

Washington currently uses it to monitor global activity as it is capable of space surveillance and is central to the US early warning and missile defence systems.

US Northern Command spokesman Lt-Cdr Teresa C Meadows said the US is wanting to expand bases near the southern town of Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq.

Narsarsuaq is home to a deep-water port with Kangerlussuaq boasting a runway capable of handling US aircraft.

Having bases there would give Washington a grip in the western and north-west regions.

The location of the third new base remains unknown.

Gen Guillot, the head of US Northern Command, reportedly briefed US legislators in mid-March over the plans.

He said they are seeking “increased access to different bases across Greenland”, according to a New York Times report.

The main reason behind it is down to the “increasing threat and the strategic importance of Greenland”.

The Pituffik Space Base is currently used to monitor global activity as it is capable of space surveillance and is central to the US early warning and missile defence systemsCredit: AFP

Earlier this year, Trump said he could be forced to take the Danish overseas territory ‘the hard way’ if the Danes didn’t hand over control of the islandCredit: Getty

He added: “I’m working with our department and others to try to develop more ports, more airfields, which leads to more options for our secretary and for the president, should we need them up in the Arctic.”

Trump’s stance on Greenland’s ownership in recent months had tested the relationship between the US, Denmark and Nato.

Denmark revealed it planned to blow up Greenland’s runways if Trump decided to invade the territory – even flying in ammo to prepare for battle.

Danish officials made it clear that an invasion of their controlled territory would be considered an attack on Copenhagen – meaning two Nato nations at war.

This would have led to serious questions being asked by the remaining alliance members over whether they invoke Article 5 and defend Denmark.

France, Sweden, Germany and Norway all announced they would deploy military personnel to the Arctic as Trump’s rhetoric ramped up.

They would all later take part in Operation Arctic Endurance where they prepped for a potential invasion.

Danish soldiers from the Dragoon Regiment, elite Jægerkorps troops and French forces trained for war in cold, mountainous areas.

F-35 fighter planes and a French naval vessel were also sent towards the North Atlantic.

Danish soldiers from the Dragoon Regiment and elite Jægerkorps troops were deployed in case of as US invasionCredit: Getty

Denmark planned to blow up Greenland’s runways if Trump decided to attackCredit: AFP