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"We already secured military access via the 1951 Defense Agreement—making force both illegal and strategically redundant."

"There is an agreement from 1950 that allows the US to have as many American bases they want in Greenland."

"There is a 31% chance that Trump and Greenland will sign a deal by December 31st, 2026."

"There is an ongoing diplomatic track with the United States."

"We are ready to negotiate a better partnership and so on, but sovereignty is a red line."

"A revised defense agreement may also be proposed – largely symbolic, but offering Trump a visible ‘win’ that could cool things off.”

“The door is already wide open... the U.S. has an open invitation to increase the size of its military base and potentially have other military bases there.”

"I have no doubt we can do this quite fast. Certainly I would hope for 2026, I hope even early in 2026."

“It’s really being negotiated now, the details of it, but essentially it’s total access. There’s no end, there’s no time limit.”

Will the US Sign a Formal Agreement Granting Expanded Military Access or Basing Rights in Greenland?

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum Thursday directing the U.S. Navy to remove the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) from its newest Ford-class aircraft carriers and replace it with steam-powered catapults at a potential cost of billions.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum Thursday directing the U.S. Navy to remove the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) from its newest Ford-class aircraft carriers and replace it with steam-powered catapults at a potential cost of billions.

The directive targets the USS Doris Miller, the fourth Ford-class carrier currently under construction, while the USS Gerald R. Ford, USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise will remain unaffected. General Atomics, the EMALS manufacturer, said that work on the Doris Miller's catapults was already halfway complete.

The directive targets the USS Doris Miller, the fourth Ford-class carrier currently under construction, while the USS Gerald R. Ford, USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise will remain unaffected. General Atomics, the EMALS manufacturer, said that work on the Doris Miller's catapults was already halfway complete.

General Atomics warned that altering the Doris Miller's design at this stage would introduce significant cost, schedule and integration risks. Trump's memo also cited the Navy's history of constant design changes as a key factor behind cost growth, delays and cancellations in shipbuilding.

General Atomics warned that altering the Doris Miller's design at this stage would introduce significant cost, schedule and integration risks. Trump's memo also cited the Navy's history of constant design changes as a key factor behind cost growth, delays and cancellations in shipbuilding.

EMALS reduced the number of sailors needed to operate carrier catapults from roughly a dozen to two. The Navy reported in February that the system enabled the USS Ford to launch and recover aircraft at a higher rate than Nimitz-class predecessors.

EMALS reduced the number of sailors needed to operate carrier catapults from roughly a dozen to two. The Navy reported in February that the system enabled the USS Ford to launch and recover aircraft at a higher rate than Nimitz-class predecessors.

Trump's opposition to EMALS dates to at least 2017, when he criticized the system in a Time magazine interview. The directive comes as the Pentagon seeks a $95 billion military funding package and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated the Iran war's cost at $37.5 billion, with the Senate still to vote on both measures.

Trump's opposition to EMALS dates to at least 2017, when he criticized the system in a Time magazine interview. The directive comes as the Pentagon seeks a $95 billion military funding package and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated the Iran war's cost at $37.5 billion, with the Senate still to vote on both measures.

In addition to the switch from EMALS to steam, the White House also announced steps to rebuild U.S. naval shipbuilding, including investing in American yards with foreign partners, establishing a fifth Naval shipyard, creating a submarine component repair center, and overhauling Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to tackle delays, costs and capacity shortages.

In addition to the switch from EMALS to steam, the White House also announced steps to rebuild U.S. naval shipbuilding, including investing in American yards with foreign partners, establishing a fifth Naval shipyard, creating a submarine component repair center, and overhauling Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to tackle delays, costs and capacity shortages.

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Switching future Ford-class carriers back to steam catapults is a smart call rooted in hard-earned operational reality. EMALS has been plagued by reliability and development problems for years, and steam is battle-tested tech the Navy ran successfully for decades. The change targets ships still under construction — not finished carriers — making this a sensible redesign, not a costly retrofit.

Switching future Ford-class carriers back to steam catapults is a smart call rooted in hard-earned operational reality. EMALS has been plagued by reliability and development problems for years, and steam is battle-tested tech the Navy ran successfully for decades. The change targets ships still under construction — not finished carriers — making this a sensible redesign, not a costly retrofit.

Ronny Jackson

Ditching EMALS for steam catapults is a costly step backward at the worst possible moment. Steam requires 12 sailors per catapult versus two for EMALS — a crippling demand when the Navy already has roughly 20,000 unfilled billets. China and France are moving toward electromagnetic systems, and burning billions to undo already-built technology hands adversaries a serious strategic advantage.

Ditching EMALS for steam catapults is a costly step backward at the worst possible moment. Steam requires 12 sailors per catapult versus two for EMALS — a crippling demand when the Navy already has roughly 20,000 unfilled billets. China and France are moving toward electromagnetic systems, and burning billions to undo already-built technology hands adversaries a serious strategic advantage.

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Trump Orders Navy to Swap Hi-Tech Catapults for Steam

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Trump Orders Navy to Swap Hi-Tech Catapults for Steam

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Trump is making a smart call rooted in hard-earned operational reality. EMALS has been plagued by reliability and development problems for years, and steam is battle-tested tech the Navy ran successfully for decades. The change targets ships still under construction — not finished carriers — making this a sensible redesign, not a costly retrofit.

Trump is making a smart call rooted in hard-earned operational reality. EMALS has been plagued by reliability and development problems for years, and steam is battle-tested tech the Navy ran successfully for decades. The change targets ships still under construction — not finished carriers — making this a sensible redesign, not a costly retrofit.

Trump should stay out of this matter. This is a costly step backward at the worst possible moment. Steam requires 12 sailors per catapult versus two for EMALS — a crippling demand when the Navy already has roughly 20,000 unfilled billets. Burning billions to undo already-built technology hands adversaries a serious strategic advantage.

Trump should stay out of this matter. This is a costly step backward at the worst possible moment. Steam requires 12 sailors per catapult versus two for EMALS — a crippling demand when the Navy already has roughly 20,000 unfilled billets. Burning billions to undo already-built technology hands adversaries a serious strategic advantage.

Trump Orders Navy to Swap Hi-Tech Catapults for Steam

Trump Orders Navy to Swap Hi-Tech Catapults for Steam

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Trump Orders Navy to Swap Hi-Tech Catapults for Steam

Trump Orders Navy to Swap Hi-Tech Catapults for Steam

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