A ski-equipped U.S. Air Force LC-130 lands in Greenland. Greenland’s government released a 10-year foreign policy statement in February 2024 outlining its diplomatic objectives. U.S. AIR FORCE
THE WATCH STAFF
The government of Greenland has released its foreign policy for the coming decade, stressing its close alliance with Denmark, NATO and the United States. The government wants to maintain the international rules-based order in the Arctic and urges greater representation of Indigenous people. The 48-page document, “Greenland’s Foreign, Security and Defense Policy 2024-2033 — an Arctic Strategy,” was released in February 2024 by Greenland’s Department for Statehood and Foreign Affairs. Its scope is global with diplomatic goals for Asia, the European Union and North America, including closer economic ties with the U.S.
Greenland’s government “intends to further increase its engagement with Alaska, as exchanging best practices and expertise on the mining sector, education, the broader private sector and other areas is mutually beneficial. Enhanced relations between Greenland and the United States will provide greater opportunities for expanded cooperation. Direct trade and transportation routes between Greenland and the US will foster this development, in which the American northeast will play a pivotal role,” the document states. To accomplish those goals, the government proposes to remove trade barriers and work toward direct trade with the U.S. and work to foster closer ties with Alaska and the northeastern U.S. states. Greenland is constitutionally a part of the Kingdom of Denmark but has had increasing self-determination since 1979 – when home rule was first established – and now have their own local government and parliament established through the 2009 Self-Government Act.
The Greenland government has branded its foreign policy with the theme “Nothing about us without us” and emphasizes keeping the Arctic a low-tension region free of geopolitical issues. Greenland, through Denmark, is a member of NATO and hosts the Pituffik Space Base on the island.
“The United States is one of Greenland’s closest allies. For many years, Greenland has sought to develop its relationship with the United States, which is the world’s leading superpower and has had a military presence in Greenland for more than 80 years. Under the Defense Agreement of 1951, the United States is effectively the defender of Greenland in the event of a military conflict. Furthermore, Pituffik Space Base constitutes a key component of US national security. Greenland intends to continue its productive dialogue with the United States on defense issues, bearing in mind that we play a key role in the defense of the United States against external threats, especially from the Arctic region,” the document states.
Greenland condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and joined in U.S.-led sanctions against Russia. The government’s foreign policy remains closely aligned with NATO and opposes any military buildup in the region by any non-Arctic nation, according to the document.
Another key component of Greenland’s foreign policy is the continued building of closer ties between Indigenous and Native people in North America, including communities in the U.S. and Canada. The government proposed an Arctic North American Forum, which would create a formal structure for bringing together those communities through engaging in their respective local governments.
“Greenland intends to explore the possibility of establishing and developing a collaboration primarily between the governments and parliaments of Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik and Greenland. This would serve as a forum to meet and discuss challenges, developments and solutions. The more we reach out to our neighbors to the west, the more apparent it becomes that, despite our differences, the diverse North American regions face many of the same challenges and opportunities that we do. We are all located in the Arctic region, with largely similar climates and coastlines along the Arctic Ocean,” the document states.
Greenland’s Minister for Statehood and Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt wrote in closing remarks that Greenland has much to offer the world, especially as climate change alters the physical landscape of the Arctic. Greenland will continue to evolve and prepare to assume a greater role in the defense, sustainability and security of the Arctic, she wrote.
“The climate is changing, and the ice is getting thinner on the international stage — in both a literal and a figurative sense. To navigate these waters, you need a keen awareness of where you stand. And the basis for safely navigating the Arctic is to involve the peoples of the Arctic, to involve us. We believe in ourselves, in our partners and in our future generations who will continue to learn, innovate and drive us forward as a people and a country. Future generations must be able to identify with our country’s foreign policy. In Greenland our motto is — Nothing about us without us,” Motzfeldt wrote.
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