US to reopen Cold War-era base in southern Greenland, add second site

September 22, 2026 at 08:51 AM1 min

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The United States plans to reopen a Cold War-era military base in southern Greenland and establish a second site on the east coast. An agreement with Denmark and Greenland is expected to be signed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Key Facts

The first site is in Narsarsuaq, where the US closed its Bluie West One base in the 1950s.
The second site is the Mestersvig military post, used by Denmark's Sirius dog-sled patrol.
During the Cold War, the US maintained 17 military installations in Greenland with over 10,000 personnel.
Today only the Pituffik Space Base remains, with about 150 US service members.

Planned Bases

The first facility is located in Narsarsuaq, whose population fell to a few dozen after the US closed its Bluie West One base there in the 1950s. The second is the Mestersvig military post, used by Denmark's Sirius dog-sled patrol. The agreement is to be signed with Denmark and Greenland on Tuesday.

Cold War Legacy

During the Cold War, the United States maintained 17 military installations in Greenland with more than 10,000 American personnel. Today only the Pituffik Space Base remains, with about 150 US service members stationed there. The White House declined to comment on the reported plans.