Background to the Debate in 
Denmark and Greenland

Background Reading | Timeline | Links
Quotations from Denmark and Greenland

Denmark is not due to house any NMD-related installations. However, Copenhagen is responsible for administering the foreign and security policy of Greenland. The U.S. Air Force Base in Thule, Greenland, is currently part of the U.S. network of early warning radars that the Pentagon wishes to upgrade for use in the NMD system. Thule is also named as a location for one of the future NMD X-Band radars, designed to track incoming missiles and guide interceptors to their targets. According to John Holum, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs under President Bill Clinton, "The Thule Radar is very important to NMD, to warn and track. It is our eyes and ears. The radar will track missiles, for instance, from Iraq and the Middle East" ("Greenland Says Russians Must Have Say on U.S. Missile Shield", AFP, 23 August 2000).

However, there remain significant complications to the use of Thule in the NMD project. On the political front the U.S. plans have created serious unease amongst the Greenland home-rule government. This is a coalition headed by Social Democrat Prime Minister Jonathan Motzfeldt and a deputy prime minister from the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit party, Josef Motzfeldt. Inuit Ataqatigiit has maintained a strong opposition to the use of Thule in NMD for some time; while Prime Minister Motzfeldt, although initially non-committal, has been recently raising concerns of his own. Although the ultimate decision for allowing Thule to be used in NMD lies with Denmark, the government there has made it clear that it will consider the wishes of  Greenland before reaching a conclusion.

The Thule base is also threatened by NGO pressure and court challenges supporting indigenous Inuit rights. In particular, its legal status is the subject of a contest due to go before the Danish Supreme Court in 2002. The area’s original Inuit inhabitants are claiming the right to return and live in the area around Thule.  The group was forcibly evicted from the area in 1953 to make way for the U.S. base. A previous verdict, by the Danish High Court of the Eastern Circuit, stated the population of 1953 was relocated by force and were awarded compensation. The group are appealing both the amount awarded, and the refusal to grant a right to return to the area. If the Inuit peoples win this right, to which they are legally entitled under the terms of both the Danish Constitution and the International Labor Organization's Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention of 1989, the U.S. plans for a new NMD radar system at Thule would be seriously undermined. 

Background Reading 

"Heated Arctic Dispute. Greenland, Alaska Natives Balk at New US Military Plans", by K.L. Capozza, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 November 2001

"Danish Opposition May Impede US National Missile Defense"
by Jorgen Dragsdahl, 7 March 2000

"The Danish Dilemma" by Jorgen Dragsdahl, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, September/October 2001.

"Bush's New 'Star Wars' Base a Radioactive Danger", by Steve Boggan, The Independent, 11 August 2001

"Evicted by the US military, the Inuit prepare to fight Star Wars", by Steve Boggan, The Independent, 7 August 2001

Timeline

2002 – Inuit people challenge in the Danish Supreme Court for the right to return and live in the area around Thule.

20 November 2001 – Danish parliamentary elections bring a sharp swing to political right as a coalition of centrist and rightwing parties come to power. These conservative parties are traditionally more pro-American in their foreign policy approach.

May 2001 – Danish Opinion Poll shows a majority of 52.7% objecting to Thule being part of a U.S. based missile shield. Only 19.9% expressed support. ("The Danish Dilemma" by Jorgen Dragsdahl, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, September/October 2001.) 

9 May 2001 – US officials visit Copenhagen for talks with the Danish government on missile defense.  At the subsequent press conference Danish and US officials insist that the possible use of Thule in a missile defense system was not discussed.

3 May 2001 – The Danish Parliament holds a debate on NMD.  During the debate Foreign Minister Mogens Lykketoft repeatedly stresses the crucial significance of the Chinese reaction to a US missile defense if a new arms race is to be avoided. He also defended the ABM Treaty as “a fundamental contribution to stability” which should not be terminated unilaterally by either party

"Denmark Leaders Warn US on Chinese Reaction to Missile Defense," by Jorgen Dragsdahl, BASIC Reports #78

25 April 2001 – The Danish Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee holds a public hearing on NMD.  Danish MPs hear evidence from a variety of NMD experts, many of which urge the government to take a stronger line and oppose Washington's plans. 

"Denmark Leaders Warn US on Chinese Reaction to Missile Defense," by Jorgen Dragsdahl, BASIC Reports #78

5-6 March 2001 – Danish Foreign Minister, Mogens Lykkestoft,  visits the United States for talks with President Bush.

18 September 2000 – In an interview with the New York Times Jonathan Motzfeldt, prime minister of the Greenland home-rule government, raises concerns over NMD: "No one in Greenland wishes to take actions that would lead to recreating the atmosphere of the Cold War era. I am content that NATO has not greeted the NMD plans with cheers." ("Greenlanders Wary Of A New Role In U.S. Defenses," New York Times, 18 September 2000)  

23 August 2000 – After talks with John Holum (see below, 22 August 2000) Maliianguaq Marcussen Moelgaard, head of Greenland Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Policy and Security, argues for Russian involvement in NMD talks and the preservation of the ABM Treaty. He declares: "We are convinced that it is essential to listen to what Russia has to say on the question, and a different point of view to that of Washington. We firmly stand by the government's declaration last November, which stipulated that Greenland would not accept the NMD project if it violated the ABM treaty signed in 1972 between Russia and the United States, and if it opens the way for a new 'Cold War' which we will be the victims of." ("Greenland Says Russians Must Have Say on U.S. Missile Shield," AFP, 23 August 2000)  

22 August 2000 – John Holum, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs, meets with officials from the home-rule government during a visit to Greenland. The visit is seen as an attempt by the United States to secure support for the use of Thule Air Base in its planned NMD system. ("US, Greenland Discuss Missile Shield Radar," Reuters, 22 August 2000)   

7 August 2000 – The Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) issues a strongly worded statement outlining its concerns regarding U.S. plans for NMD. In the statement, ICC President Aqqaluk Lynge states; “NMD is a unilateral, one-country plan and not multilateral. Because it violates the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between Russia and the [United States], I fear that other nonproliferation agreements may fall as well.  And then we will be back in a very dangerous Cold War situation again, except with many more players eager to join this new race.”

18 November 1999 – A statement from Greenland's home-rule government asserts that if the ABM Treaty is violated or if the US unilaterally sticks to present plans, then Greenland "can’t support plans for an upgrade of the Thule radar"

Links

Greenland Home-rule Parliament
This site provides an overview to the home-rule government and parliament of Greenland, outlining jurisdictions and relations with Denmark.  

Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
The ICC represents the world’s 152,000 Inuit in Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Russia. This website details their goals as well as the areas on which they work and their international involvement. 

Inuit Ataqatigiit
This left-wing party is part of Greenland's coalition home-rule government. It has maintained strong opposition to the use of Thule in NMD. 

Greenpeace Greenland Tour 
This site describes the voyage of the Greenpeace ship, the MV Arctic Sunrise around Greenland to expose the role of Thule in Star Wars and promote debate in Greenland, Denmark and internationally of the consequences of deploying an ABM-system.

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