Davos, Switzerland. Reports on Thursday said a proposal resembling the United Kingdom’s sovereign base areas on Cyprus was raised as a possible way to address a dispute between US President Donald Trump and the Danish government over Greenland’s future.
Reports cite comparisons to UK bases in Cyprus
The New York Times quoted a Nato official who attended meetings on the matter at the World Economic Forum in Davos as having compared the concept to the United Kingdom’s bases in Cyprus, which are regarded as British territory. The report also cited a second official who confirmed that the idea for Greenland was modelled after the sovereign British bases in Cyprus.
Background on UK sovereign base areas
The UK retained two sovereign bases in Cyprus, in Akrotiri and in Dhekelia, when it relinquished control of the rest of the island upon its independence in 1960. Neither base was ever incorporated into the Republic of Cyprus and both are sovereign British territory.
UK foreign secretary rejects changing Greenland’s status
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared reluctant on Thursday to suggest such an arrangement could be made in Greenland, telling the BBC that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that this remains unwavering.
Cooper, who was in Davos, was asked about the prospect of American sovereign base areas but said Nato is working on an overarching framework that could include an “arctic sentry”, similar to the Baltic sentry within Nato.
Nato’s Baltic sentry initiative
The Baltic sentry is a Nato initiative to increase military presence in the Baltic Sea, with Nato allies deploying assets including ships and aircraft, aimed at deterring Russian activities in the region. It does not entail the transfer of sovereignty over any territory.
Nato launched the initiative last year, saying it came in response to damage to undersea cables connecting Estonia and Finland in December 2024.
Danish prime minister rejects sovereignty negotiations
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also rejected the idea of sovereign bases in Greenland, saying Denmark can negotiate on political matters such as security, investments and the economy, but cannot negotiate on sovereignty.
Frederiksen added that he had been informed that this had not been the case during discussions between the US and Nato in Davos, and said only Denmark and Greenland can make decisions on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland.
What should Nato’s proposed “arctic sentry” framework include, in your view?