Discussion of Stationing US and Danish Troops in Greenland
Back in October, Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam called it “decidedly life-threatening” when the Greenlandic government entered into an agreement with Denmark to establish a new headquarters for the Arctic Command in Nuuk.
On Thursday, Múte B. Egede, Greenlandic government’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Mineral Resources, presented the foreign policy statement for 2024–2025.
In this connection, politicians gathered for a debate in the Parliament.
Here, several parties touched on the military buildup, which has particularly taken place as a result of US President Donald Trump’s threats to take over the country.
In particular, the fact that more soldiers have arrived in the Greenland capital was widely discussed.
After the conclusion of part 2 of the Danish defense agreement in October, a heated debate began.
This was because the Arctic Command is to have a new headquarters in Nuuk, and that a new naval dock for frigates is to be built.
But one of the country’s influential parties, Naleraq, wants to move the soldiers away from inhabited areas and to the former military bases around the coast.
When the parties’ foreign affairs spokespeople took the podium, several had approached Naleraq’s policy.
Nuuk Is the First Target of Attack
The reason why there are soldiers in Nuuk in particular is that the capital will be the first target in the event of war.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt (independent member) said this during the debate.
“The citizens here will feel threatened here in Nuuk no matter what. The fact that we have the defense here is the best and fastest reaction if something happens, such as a network breach,” she said.
“You can’t minimize how big a threat there has been.”
Major General Søren Andersen, head of Arctic Command, has rejected the criticism from Naleraq that the new measures use the population as “human shields,” as Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam has stated.
“I don’t entirely share that opinion,” he said.
Justus Hansen said something similar on behalf of the Democrats last Thursday.
“I don’t understand the insecurity. You’ve always had soldiers where decisions are made. Especially since we in the Parliament and Government are here in Nuuk, there will be soldiers.”
No More Military in Nuuk
Siumut has not stated that the Arctic Command should be moved out of Nuuk.
On the other hand, they now believe that future military buildup should take place elsewhere in the country away from more populated areas.
“In Siumut, we believe that under no circumstances should there be a further expansion of military activities in Nuuk, and that future military initiatives should be placed in Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq,” said Erik Jensen on Thursday in the Parliament.
“We should not only think about the citizens of Nuuk, but about defending our entire country. We question why only the citizens of Nuuk want to defend.”
Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen believes that a dialogue should be started in the Danish Realm about whether it makes sense to place the military presence to a greater extent in, for example, Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq.
“If the citizens of Nuuk start to feel less safe, we must listen and act.”
We Must Listen to the Coast
Currently, negotiations are taking place between the United States and Greenland in Washington, DC.
It has subsequently emerged that the US military is interested in the possibility of a greater presence in three different places in the country.
However, only two places have been named: Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq.
Pipaluk Lynge is the chair of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee. She said during the debate that it is not yet known whether the US military will open up to smaller settlements.
But the doubt alone means that politicians must listen more to the locals around the coast.
“We must listen to the locals in connection with the US soldiers and their wishes for military areas,” said Pipaluk Lynge.
“We are an elongated country. Therefore, we must have a proper dialogue and involvement of the citizens along the coast.”
The Democrats are also open to considering whether the military presence will also spread to the coast to a greater extent.
“I know for myself that other parts of the population would feel safer if there were soldiers in places other than Nuuk,” said Justus Hansen.
Source: KNR (in Danish)