Greenland’s government and residents voiced relief after a military agreement with the United States and Denmark offered a possible end to anxiety over President Donald Trump’s threats to seize the Arctic island. Still, the pact has not erased distrust of Washington among Greenlanders.

The agreement permits the United States to expand its military presence in Greenland. It includes reopening bases from the Cold War period in the settlements of Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, bringing the prospect of renewed spending and employment.

Naaja Nathanielsen, a Greenlandic MP in the Danish parliament, welcomed the result. “I am incredibly relieved and think the outcome is very sensible. We can be satisfied,” Nathanielsen told Reuters.

The public response included visible displays of Greenlandic pride. Parliament speaker Kim Kielsen urged households to raise the Greenlandic flag on Wednesday, while activist and influencer Orla Joelsen encouraged Nuuk residents to gather at the airport.

Joelsen called on people in the capital to welcome the prime minister and foreign minister home from New York. The two officials had been there to strike the agreement.

The deal stopped short of Trump’s earlier demand that the United States annex Greenland. Trump had tied that demand to the growing Arctic presence of Russia and China, an argument that unsettled residents of the territory.

Nathanielsen noted that an American military footprint on the island is hardly unprecedented. “There has previously been a significant American presence in Greenland, so this is nothing new,” she said.

She also acknowledged that recent turmoil has left a mark on local attitudes. “However, in light of the unrest over the past few years, there is likely greater scepticism in Greenland, and consequently, work needs to be done to reassure the local population.”

Image Credit: The White House

The United States first constructed military bases in Greenland during World War II. During the Cold War, it operated 17 military installations and stationed more than 10,000 personnel there to monitor Soviet forces.

Today, Pituffik Space Base is the only remaining American base in Greenland, with about 150 U.S. military personnel. The new agreement therefore creates a path for a larger presence, although the source did not specify the eventual number of personnel or a timetable for reopening the bases.

Some residents see the return of American operations as a practical security benefit. Pitanguaq Mikissen, 69, a retired ship assistant, said the possible reopening of old U.S. bases would provide greater security for Greenland’s 57,000 people.

Others remain wary after Trump’s pressure campaign. “I think that Trump is really good at creating a lot of worry and a lot of fear,” said Jensia Dam-Davidsen, 40, a voice and choir teacher.

Dam-Davidsen also questioned the need for the agreement as Denmark expands its own presence. “It (the deal) seems wrong in every way — especially now that Denmark has expanded their military presence here.”

Denmark has significantly increased its military footprint in Greenland since Trump’s threats reached their peak in January. It deployed additional troops, increased Arctic defense spending and hosted allies during military exercises.

The prospect of more American aircraft and vessels has also stirred concerns about the territory’s hunting and fishing grounds. Communities depend on those areas for their livelihoods, and residents fear that expanded activity could interfere with them.

The agreement states that military activity must respect Greenlandic society and traditional ways of life. That provision is particularly important in areas where hunting and fishing remain central to daily life and local employment.

Malene Vahl Rasmussen, mayor of Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland, said any American expansion must honor Greenlandic practices. The United States is looking to reopen a military base in the municipality, placing local concerns directly alongside the pact’s military ambitions.

Rasmussen said protecting hunting and fishing must remain part of any implementation. She also made clear that a signed agreement cannot instantly restore confidence after the recent confrontation with Washington.

“You can’t simply say, ‘OK, we’ve signed this, so now we trust you again’. Trust really needs to be rebuilt within that partnership,” Rasmussen told Reuters. The pact may have eased the immediate anxiety, but Greenlanders are still watching how the United States handles its renewed military role.