In addition, the United States and Denmark signed the 1951 Greenland defence agreement, two years after forming NATO, which allowed the U.S. to host military bases in Greenland. U.S. ownership would not change who can sail beside Greenland, or the ability of American ships to operate in those waters. Expanding our own Arctic presence and capabilities may further assuage American concerns about the region’s vulnerability to Russian and Chinese intervention. Any arguments or solutions — such as highlighting the valuable defence co-operation among NATO allies — must be directed at Americans themselves. Heather Exner-Pirot is director of energy, natural resources and environment, and Christopher Coates is director of foreign policy, national defence and national security at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Source: National Post January 12, 2026 16:21 UTC