GREENLAND — The United States is negotiating with Denmark to open three new military bases in southern Greenland, according to officials familiar with the talks. The proposed installations would primarily focus on surveillance of potential Russian and Chinese maritime activity in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap.

U.S. officials proposed that the three new bases be formally designated as U.S. sovereign territory. One proposed base is likely to be located in Narsarsuaq, on the site of a former U.S. military facility that housed a small airport. The two sides have not reached a formal agreement on the number of new bases, and the final number could change.

The White House confirmed it was engaged in high-level talks with Greenland and Denmark but declined to comment on details of the negotiations. A White House official said the administration was very optimistic that the talks were headed in the right direction. Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed there is an ongoing diplomatic track with the U.S. but would not provide further details.

The negotiations have been carried out by a small working group of U.S. and Danish officials in Washington, with teams meeting at least five times since mid-January. Michael Needham, a senior State Department official, is leading the talks and has been tasked with crafting a deal that satisfies President Donald Trump while respecting Denmark's border protections. Needham is usually accompanied by one or two officials from the State Department or the National Security Council.

U.S. officials did not discuss seizing control of Greenland during the talks. Denmark and NATO have publicly rejected the possibility of a U.S. takeover. Trump has said the U.S. should "own" Greenland to prevent Russia or China from taking it. Trump also said this could happen the "easy way" or the "hard way." Trump expressed similar interest in gaining access to Greenland during his first term, and his renewed interest earlier this year triggered a diplomatic crisis that strained relations between NATO and the U.S. administration.

General Gregory Guillot testified to Congress in March that the U.S. was seeking to open new bases in Greenland. "Wherever the US and our allies leave a vacuum, that vacuum is often filled by China and Russia," retired General Glen VanHerck said.

The U.S. currently operates one military base in Greenland, down from approximately 17 facilities at the height of the Cold War. Pituffik Space Base, in northwestern Greenland, monitors missiles for NORAD but is not configured to conduct maritime surveillance. A 1951 pact between the two countries grants the U.S. broad authority to expand its military operations in Greenland, though the Danish government must approve any expansion.