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US military seeks to expand Greenland presence

Apr 1, 2026, 6:19pm EDT
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Danish troops in Greenland
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

The US military is ramping up expansion efforts in Greenland, negotiating with Denmark for more access to military bases on the Arctic island.

US President Donald Trump’s sustained interest in the autonomous Danish territory could further strain Washington’s relationship with NATO, which is already eroding over the alliance’s reluctance to get pulled into the Iran war. Trump’s threat to exit NATO — which would require congressional approval — “plunged European leaders into another cycle of anxious deliberation,” The New York Times wrote.

Trump has repeatedly lashed out at allies for refusing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz; the UK is hosting talks with dozens of nations Thursday aimed at forming a coalition focused on that goal.

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