WASHINGTON, September 22. /TASS/. A new trilateral agreement on Greenland allows the United States to modernize and expand its Pituffik Space Base on the island and establish two new ones, according to the text of the agreement released by the White House.
"The United States shall be allowed to modernize and expand its activities in Pituffik Space Base. The United States shall be allowed to establish an additional Defense Area at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig in accordance with modalities and technical details to be mutually agreed by the Parties," the document said. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The document allows a foreign military presence on the island only with the consent of the three parties. "No state that is not a member of NATO shall be allowed to establish its own manned or unmanned military installations in Greenland nor shall they be allowed a persistent presence of military forces in Greenland, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties," the text said.
The new agreement also allows the United States to establish additional military bases in Greenland, but only with the parties' mutual consent. "The United States may establish additional defense areas in Greenland and strengthen its military operations or facilities," the document said. It noted that "either Party may identify the need for a new Defense Area for the defense of the North Atlantic Treaty area, Greenland, and the American continent" and submit a corresponding proposal.
"The Parties shall immediately convene to engage in consultations through the Permanent Committee to decide implementation details based on mutual agreement. If no agreement is reached within 90 days at the Permanent Committee, consultations shall escalate to the deputy minister level, followed by the minister level," the agreement stated.