The United States will establish two military bases in southern and eastern Greenland to secure long term access to the Arctic territory. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Denmark and Greenland signed a trilateral agreement Tuesday that Trump says grants Washington permanent control over security decisions and the right of free movement by land, air, and sea. The pact prohibits non-NATO adversaries from establishing military footholds or investing in strategic sectors on the island.

The deal signed at the UN General Assembly allows the U.S. to expand the Pituffik base and create new defense areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig. In exchange for military access, U.S. contracts for construction and maintenance must be awarded to Greenlandic suppliers to the maximum extent possible. The agreement maintains Danish sovereignty and Greenland's right to self-determination, ending a monthslong standoff involving U.S. tariff threats.