Conflict over Arctic island: Trump insists on Greenland: Who has protected the Arctic to this point? | EUROtoday

“High North, low tensions” – that was NATO’s declared objective earlier than Donald Trump aggressively claimed Greenland for the USA. NATO has been warning Denmark concerning the “Russian threat” for twenty years, the US President not too long ago claimed. “Unfortunately, Denmark has not yet been able to do anything about it.” Is that right? Who is definitely answerable for Greenland’s safety? And what position do the USA and Germany play on this?

Who is answerable for the navy safety of the Arctic island?

Like the USA, Denmark is likely one of the founding members of NATO. When it was based in 1949, the Arctic island of Greenland additionally turned a NATO territory. The Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in Europe (Saceur), all the time a US basic, is answerable for navy issues. Its space of ​​accountability extends from the Mediterranean to the North Pole.

In addition, the USA and the Kingdom of Denmark concluded a protection settlement for Greenland in 1951 (“concerning the defense of Greenland”). Greenland’s semi-autonomous authorities was given a say in 2004. The settlement allowed the USA to construct navy bases on the Arctic island and – de facto – take over protection as a NATO activity.

Last yr it was introduced that accountability for NATO protection planning for Denmark, Sweden and Finland could be transferred from the operational headquarters in Brunssum within the Netherlands to that in Norfolk within the USA. This is a response to the modified safety scenario, with out there being any indication that Russia or China wish to take management of the Arctic island.

How many troopers does the US have in Greenland?

During the Cold War, the USA had far more navy than it does now in Greenland. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) talked about on Monday that there have been as soon as over 30,000 troopers. “There are currently less than 200. So obviously the threat analysis by the United States itself is not as dramatic as it is being presented at the moment. That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t get bigger again,” stated the Chancellor.

The US troopers are primarily on the Pituffik Space Base, previously Thule Air Force Base. This is necessary for missile protection and radar surveillance. Pituffik’s vantage level on the highest of the world permits strategic house superiority, the US navy itself writes concerning the facility. It is the northernmost US navy set up – surrounded by ice 9 years a month, however has an open runway all yr spherical.

What was the aim of the Bundeswehr’s exploration?

Even if the joint deployment of troopers is seen as a political sign, formally it serves to organize for a navy train. The women and men of the Bundeswehr have examined the situations for this. Port amenities, logistical choices, gas provides and sensible questions reminiscent of de-icing plane are talked about.

Mostly it’s additionally about places. These might embody the Kangerlussuaq civil airport, previously a US navy web site and positioned an excellent 300 kilometers from the capital Nuuk on the finish of a fjord greater than 150 kilometers lengthy. The Ministry of Defense talked about reconnaissance flights with new P-8 Poseidon machines as potential German contributions, but additionally the deployment of mountain fighters, frigates or fighter plane.

What has the Bundeswehr accomplished to this point?

Last yr, the duty drive provide ship “Berlin” was the primary German Navy ship to reach in Nuuk, Greenland. Germany has additionally elevated navy cooperation with Iceland, Canada and Great Britain. The Bundeswehr took half in workouts on a number of events.

The present goal is to higher safe the ocean areas between Greenland, Iceland and Great Britain within the North Atlantic, to have a scenario image “and, if necessary, to have options and resources on site,” stated a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense in Berlin.

A strategically necessary strait within the North Atlantic for NATO in addition to Russia and China is the so-called GIUK Gap, bordered by Greenland, Iceland and Great Britain. Also in view is the strategically necessary physique of water often called Bear Gap between North Cape, Bear Island and Spitsbergen.

What are the Danes planning on doing now?

If the USA actually wished to take over Greenland by navy drive, the Danes and Greenlanders would don’t have any probability. This is likely one of the the reason why each international locations proceed to strive diplomacy – but additionally with clear demarcations.

The Danes wish to set an instance with an elevated navy presence on the Arctic island. It was solely on Monday night that one other aircraft with Danish troopers landed on the airport within the Greenland capital Nuuk. Among different issues, they’re supposed to protect essential infrastructure and prepare beneath the intense situations of the Arctic. In order to dissuade the USA from its plan, Denmark can be relying closely on the help of its EU and NATO companions.

What do the Danes hope for from their allies?

As a small nation, the Danes are depending on their allies and are doing all the things they’ll to have their European NATO companions on their facet within the battle. Just a couple of days in the past, Germany, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark as soon as once more expressed their full solidarity with Greenland and the Danish Kingdom in a joint assertion.

At the identical time, Denmark desires to point out, with the assistance of NATO allies, the way it can higher shield Greenland and the Arctic. Denmark has simply requested NATO for a everlasting presence in Greenland. The mannequin for this could possibly be the elevated NATO presence within the Baltic Sea and the Baltics, as Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated.

Over the course of the yr, the Danes wish to prepare with worldwide groups in snow and ice – for instance within the Kangerlussuaq settlement. “The fairways here are full of ice. It is dangerous to sail a ship,” says Søren Andersen, head of the Arctic Command. “In Kangerlussuaq it can be as cold as minus 40 degrees on a normal winter day.” Many armed forces models have by no means skilled beneath such situations, he says. That’s why it’s a necessity for them to be on web site. The Arctic Command is a unit of the Danish Armed Forces in Nuuk.