Report: Pentagon Plans to Build New Military Facilities in Greenland Next Year The United States hopes to establish the first new military facilities in Greenland as early as next year. At the same time, the Pentagon is planning extensive upgrades to Pituffik Space Base, according to a senior defence official. The United States expects to begin work on new military facilities in Greenland next year, while the US Department of Defense is also planning major upgrades to Pituffik Space Base. This was reported by the conservative news outlet Washington Examiner, citing a senior Pentagon official who spoke at a meeting with defence journalists in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. “We hope to have some initial capability in place as early as next year,” the official said, referring to President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States intends to establish two new military bases in Greenland. The plans involve Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig on the east coast. The possibility of establishing US military facilities at these two locations is included in the new defence agreement between the United States, Greenland and Denmark. Weather Conditions Affect Construction Plans The Pentagon has already begun planning, but weather conditions limit the possibility of starting construction this year, according to the Trump administration official. “We are currently in the planning phase because we are almost immediately running out of the window in which the weather allows us to carry out work,” the official explained. According to the official, southern Greenland has approximately 300 days a year when weather conditions permit construction work. At Pituffik in northern Greenland, the construction season is limited to just a few months. Mestersvig already has a gravel runway approximately 1,830 metres long, which could be incorporated into plans for the new facilities. Radar and Power Infrastructure to Be Upgraded In addition to the new facilities, the United States is planning a series of investments at Pituffik Space Base, which plays a critical role in defending the United States against potential missile attacks. The planned improvements include upgrades to radar systems, power infrastructure and aircraft hangars. According to the official, a detailed investment plan is already in place, with work expected to begin next year when weather conditions allow. Pituffik is a central component of the US early-warning system for detecting potential missile attacks against the American mainland. Greenland’s geographical location makes it strategically important because missile trajectories across the Arctic could pass over Greenland. “The importance of what Pituffik provides, both in the space domain and in strategic early warning, cannot be overstated,” the official said. —KNR