The Arctic Challenge to Danish Foreign and Security Policy

Petersen, Nikolaj

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511994784.010

Cited by 18 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The Arctic command was opened on 31 October 2012 by the Queen of Denmark in Nuuk, Greenland ( Sermitsiaq (Nuuk) 31 October 2012, see also Jákupsstovu and Berg 2012). In the absence of a special coast guard, civil protection tasks at sea are handled by the Danish armed forces, with the exception of minor control functions performed by Greenland's self-government authorities (Petersen 2011). Denmark also operates the so-called GREENPOS reporting system, which controls all ships entering Greenland's territorial waters (Petersen 2011).…”

Section: Denmark-greenland Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the absence of a special coast guard, civil protection tasks at sea are handled by the Danish armed forces, with the exception of minor control functions performed by Greenland's self-government authorities (Petersen 2011). Denmark also operates the so-called GREENPOS reporting system, which controls all ships entering Greenland's territorial waters (Petersen 2011). In general terms, the purpose of the Danish defence in and around Greenland is primarily to enforce Danish sovereignty by virtue of presence and surveillance.…”

Section: Denmark-greenland Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The new self-government act of 2009 gives Greenland full responsibility regarding its own natural resources. Defence, foreign policy and sovereignty control remains, however, in Danish hands (Petersen 2011). This situation can lead to different interpretations and different policy agendas regarding Greenland.…”

Section: Summary and Way Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Permission for this development was formally granted in 2004 with the Igaliku agreement. This agreement was a supplement to the 1951 defence agreement and was signed also by the home-rule authorities of Greenland (Petersen 2011).…”

Section: Historical Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1995, the Danish forces in Greenland were brought together to become the Greenland Command ( Grønlands Kommando ), which like the Faroe Command is directly subordinate to the Danish defence command (Petersen 2011). This was one step towards the present Danish defence plan for a single Arctic command, which now have replaced the Greenland command (Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands 2011).…”

Section: Denmark-greenland Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Greenland as a self-governing sub-national territory in international relations: past, current and future perspectives

Ackrén

Jakobsen

2014

Polar Record

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Greenland was used by the US as a platform and as an extended arm within its security and foreign policy during the World War II and the cold war. After this things changed, although Greenland remained important in Danish-US relations under the umbrella of NATO. Nowadays, the geostrategic position of Greenland between North America and Europe is gaining fresh prominence in the race for natural resources in the Arctic. Many issues arise from the prospective opening of the Arctic, all of which may have fateful impacts on future development in the region. Climate change, claims related to the extension of the continental shelf, exploitation and exploration of natural resources, together with the protection of indigenous peoples are all current issues that must be taken into consideration in the context of security and foreign policy formation in Greenland. The future of the Thule Air Base is also relevant. This article reviews developments from the World War II to the present regarding international relations from a Greenlandic perspective. As a self-governing sub-national territory within the realm of Denmark, Greenland does not have the ultimate decision-making power within foreign and security policy. The new Self-Government Act of 2009, however, gives Greenland some room for manoeuvre in this respect.

show abstract

Section: Denmark-greenland Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Denmark-greenland Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Summary and Way Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Historical Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Denmark-greenland Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations