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New York Times: US Bases in Greenland Modeled After British Bases in Cyprus

Published January 22, 2026, 07:26
New York Times: US Bases in Greenland Modeled After British Bases in Cyprus

According to a New York Times report, the scenario for establishing US military bases in Greenland is based on the model of British bases in Cyprus. NATO officials discussed the possibility of the United States gaining sovereignty over small areas of Greenland for military purposes, with one official directly comparing it to the British bases in Cyprus, which are considered British territory. These discussions took place on the sidelines of meetings of top NATO military officials in Brussels, and it is unclear whether this specific scenario is included in the agreement announced by Trump. NATO stated that negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States are ongoing, with the aim of preventing Russia and China from gaining economic or military foothold in Greenland. Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, did not provide further details, while a spokesperson said he did not propose any sovereignty compromise during his meeting with Trump. Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz rejected Trump's statements, emphasizing that NATO has no mandate to negotiate issues concerning Greenland without its participation. The report stresses that discussions are ongoing and the comparison to British bases in Cyprus concerns a possible scenario, not an agreed solution. Trump had earlier announced the existence of a framework agreement for the future of Greenland, without providing specific details.