President Trump maintains that the U.S. needs Greenland for American and NATO security, but many defense experts point out that a 1951 treaty already allows the U.S. to keep a consistent military presence on the island. CBS News' Lindsey Reiser explains.

Nuuk

The United States has threatened to increase tariffs on several European countries until the U.S. is able to purchase Greenland.

Greenland Stand-Off

The United States first established a military presence in Greenland during World War II to prevent German forces from gaining control after Denmark's surrender to the Nazis. Following the war, the U.S. expanded its presence, building 17 bases and stationing thousands of troops, which made up a significant portion of Greenland's population at the time.

Although a postwar attempt by President Truman to purchase Greenland was rejected by Denmark, a 1951 treaty allowed the U.S. to maintain military infrastructure on the island, primarily for defense against the Soviet Union. Most U.S. bases were later returned to Denmark, except for Thule Air Base, which was renamed Badufik in 2023 and now serves as a U.S. Space Force base focused on missile warning and space surveillance.

The origins of the U.S.-Greenland military relationship

President Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on European nations that oppose his push to acquire Greenland. President Trump maintains the U.S. needs Greenland for American and NATO security, but many defense experts point out that a 1951 treaty already allows the U.S. to maintain a consistent military presence on the island. The U.S. first established a defensive position on the island during World War II to prevent Germany from gaining control of it, while Denmark surrendered to the Nazis within six hours of the German invasion of 1940, the Nazis did not immediately take over Denmark's colony of Greenland. About a year later, the U.S. signed an agreement with Denmark's ambassador allowing the U.S. to take control of the island's defense on behalf of the Allies. By the end of the war, the U.S. had built or expanded 17 military bases across the island with a buildup of U.S. troops totaling 5,800, which roughly equaled 25 percent of the island's population at the time, according to the book Greenland and Arctic Security. After World War II, U.S. President Harry Truman tried to buy the island, Denmark rejected the U.S.' offer, but did agree in 1951 to allow the U.S. to keep a military presence on the island for defense purposes against what was then the Soviet Union. The defense treaty allowed the U.S. to build as much military infrastructure as it felt was necessary within the, quote, defense areas of Greenland, which occupied parts of the territory's coastline. During the height of the Cold War, the U.S. built bases across Greenland, including what was then called Thule Air Base, which was the largest on the island. Since the Cold War ended, the U.S. has relinquished control of most of its bases back to Denmark, except for Thule. It was renamed Badufik in 2023 and became an official base for the U.S. Space Force. The base now houses about 150 service members and primarily focuses on missile warnings and space surveillance.

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The origins of the U.S.-Greenland military relationship

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Greenland Stand-Off