Editing Military in Greenland

{{Short description|Responsibility of the Danish Armed Forces}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

The defence of [[Greenland]] is the responsibility of the [[Kingdom of Denmark]]; the government of Greenland does not have control of military or foreign affairs. In the history of Greenland there have been many changes of presence regarding who is in charge of the security of Greenlandic people and its land.

The most important part of Greenland's defensive territory remains the 12 maritime zones.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Marine Environmental Risk Assessment - Greenland|url=https://fmn.dk/nyheder/Documents/arktis-analyse/bilag6-risikoanalyse-havmiljoe-environmental-risk-assessment-greenland.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324091508/https://www.fmn.dk/nyheder/Documents/arktis-analyse/bilag6-risikoanalyse-havmiljoe-environmental-risk-assessment-greenland.pdf |archive-date=2020-03-24 |url-status=live|last=Defence Command Denmark}}</ref> In the 21st century there has been a significant increase in challenges.<ref>{{Citation|last=Exner-Pirot|first=Heather|title=Between Militarization and Disarmament: Challenges for Arctic Security in the Twenty-First Century|work=Climate Change and Arctic Security|year=2020|pages=91–106|publisher=Springer International Publishing|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-20230-9_6|isbn=978-3-030-20229-3|s2cid=201318047}}</ref>

==History==
[[Danish military]] history on Greenland has its origins in the early 18th century. In 1721 [[Hans Egede]], a Danish-Norwegian missionary first colonised the region. Soldiers were stationed on Greenland to protect the Danish colony from looting, especially against foreign [[whaling in Greenland|whalers]]. [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] split a century later in 1814, leaving Greenland under complete Danish rule.

In 1932, the [[Royal Danish Navy|Navy Flyvevæsen]] (Naval Air Force) made its first appearance. The Air Force contributed aerial photography to the [[Geodætisk Institut]]e, a cartographic institute under the Ministry of Defence. All military work was carried out during the summer months, from May to September, after which the ships were transferred to [[Iceland]] or Denmark during the winter months.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Historie|url=http://forsvaret.dk/GLK/OmGLK/Historie/Pages/Historie.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212025810/http://forsvaret.dk/GLK/OmGLK/Historie/Pages/Historie.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-02-12|date=2012-02-12|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref>

The Danish Navy was actively involved in exploring Greenland through expeditions until the beginning of the [[Second World War]]. The armed forces were also responsible for surveying and [[cartography]]. Greenland took its first step towards independence in [[Greenland#Home rule and self-rule|1953]] when representation in the Danish Parliament was gained. "The Folketing shall consist of one assembly of not more than one hundred and seventy-nine Members of whom two Members shall be elected in the Faroe Islands and two Members in Greenland."<ref>Danish Const. art. 4, § 28.</ref>

== Second World War ==
{{main|Greenland in World War II}}

Following the [[Nazi German]] occupation of Denmark (operation [[Weserübung]]) on 9 April 1940, Denmark signed an agreement with the United States to keep control of the Greenlandic territory in allied hands. The Thulesag 1 agreement,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Defense of Greenland|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-dk-ust000007-0107.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226132028/https://www.loc.gov/law/help/us-treaties/bevans/b-dk-ust000007-0107.pdf |archive-date=2016-12-26 |url-status=dead|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref> signed on 9 April 1941, gave the [[Federal Government of the United States]] the right to assist Greenland to maintain its (non-German) status. The US-built airfields, harbors, anti-aircraft fortifications, radio, and meteorological sites. The allies feared that Germany could use Greenland as a base of operations to conduct offensive attacks on [[Washington, D.C.]] via bombing and submarine attacks. The United States' entry into the war meant that Greenland would become much more valuable to the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] war efforts as airfields and harbors in Greenland were used for important transatlantic links. Under the Thulesag 1 agreement these facilities fell entirely under US jurisdiction, while Danish [[sovereignty]] over Greenland was maintained.

The treaty was to remain in force until "existing threats to the peace and security of the American continent no longer exist" (Article 10).<ref name=":0" /> This prompted the United States to build a number of military bases during the Second World War, including [[Thule Air Base]], airfields, and a military hospital. The agreement was finally ratified by the [[Folketing|Danish Parliament]] after the end of the war on 16 May 1945.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Det danske Fredsakademis kronologi over fredssagen og international politik april 1941|url=http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1941/tid414.htm#409|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118123013/http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1941/tid414.htm#409|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-01-18|date=2007-01-18|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref> By the end of World War II, the U.S. had built or expanded 17 facilities, including air bases including [[Narsarsuaq Air Base|Narsarsuaq]] and [[Kangerlussuaq]].

As a countermeasure against the Germans, a permanent patrol service with [[Sled dog|sledge dogs]] was established with the [[Sirius Dog Sled Patrol|Sirius Patrol]], which still exists today. The first offensive against the Germans took place on 13 May 1943, when the German weather patrol was encountered by members of the Sledge Patrol; a Danish [[corporal]] was killed during the battle. A second battle took place on 22 April 1944. The Sledge Patrol of Greenland was defunct after the end of the war.<!--defunct, then 1953 Sirus, doesn't agree with Sirius Dog Sled Patrol article--> In 1953, a new dog unit was named as Sirius Patrol, after [[Sirius]], the bright dog-star in the [[Canis Major]] constellation. [[Frederik X|King Frederik of Denmark]] took part in a Sirius expedition from 11 February to 31 May 2000.

==Postwar period==
Following the Second World War, the sovereignty and defence of Greenland returned to Denmark. The United States continued to be interested in a permanent military presence due to the increasing tensions of the Cold War; however, Greenland was expected to remain under sole Danish control by the public. A US proposal to buy Greenland was rejected by the Danish government, with regard to the [[Soviet Union]].{{Clarify|reason="with regard to the soviet union"?|date=December 2021}}

==Cold War==
Since overseas territories, such as Greenland, could hardly be protected by a [[Scandinavian Defence Alliance]], Denmark's integration into [[NATO]] was likely to happen. In 1949, new opportunities for both countries opened up as the Danish membership into the military alliance was in place. The USA hoped to solve the question of a navy presence through multilateral negotiations. However, Denmark saw itself in a position to circumvent agreements with the American superpower, which was based solely on bilateral negotiations, and to guarantee Greenland's sovereignty for the future.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Denmark's Cold War struggle for scientific control of Greenland|url=https://sciencenordic.com/basic-research-denmark-history/denmarks-cold-war-struggle-for-scientific-control-of-greenland/1442100|last=Jex|first=Catherine|date=2017-01-29|website=sciencenordic.com|language=no|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref> On 27 April 1951, Thulesag 2 agreement (1951 Greenland Defense Agreement) was signed. This meant that the United States would assist Denmark in necessary defence of Greenland within the framework of the [[North Atlantic Treaty]]. For this purpose, more American military bases were to be established. Article 5, paragraph 3, guaranteed the US and its troops unrestricted [[freedom]] of operation between these bases, on land, air, and sea, throughout the entire national territory. Article 6 obliged the US "to show due respect for all regulations and customs affecting the population and the administration of Greenland". The military airbase in Narsarsuaq was developed into a joint base of Danish and American troops.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Det danske Fredsakademis kronologi over fredssagen og international politik april 1951|url=http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1951/tid514.htm#427|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608215443/http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1951/tid514.htm#427|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-06-08|date=2011-06-08|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Avalon Project - Defense of Greenland: Agreement Between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark, April 27, 1951|url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/den001.asp|website=avalon.law.yale.edu|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>

At the end of 1953, the secret of a [[weather station]] {{cvt|140|km}} from the army base in Kangerlussuaq came to light. The station had been built by US forces without the knowledge of the Danish government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Det danske Fredsakademis kronologi over fredssagen og international politik september 1953|url=http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1953/tid539.htm#909|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608152319/http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1953/tid539.htm#909|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-06-08|date=2011-06-08|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>

Nevertheless, on 15 March 1954, the expansion of Thule Air Base was set into motion. This included the installation of a new generation [[Anti-aircraft warfare|air defense system]] that was equipped with [[nuclear weapon]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Det danske Fredsakademis kronologi over fredssagen og international politik marts 1954|url=http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1954/tid543.htm#315|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226050715/http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1954/tid543.htm#315|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-26|date=2008-12-26|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref> The expansion also involved the forced resettlement of local [[Inuit]] inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Det danske Fredsakademis kronologi over fredssagen og international politik maj 1953|url=http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1953/tid535.htm#528|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608142848/http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/tid/1900/1953/tid535.htm#528|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-06-08|date=2011-06-08|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Inuit Pisinnaatitaaffiinut Kalaallit Nunaata Siunnersuisoqatigiivi|first=Grønlands Råd for Menneskerettigheder|title=MENNESKERETTIGHEDER I GRØNLAND|year=2016|publisher=2016 Grønlands Råd for Menneskerettigheder og Institut for Menneskerettigheder – Danmarks Nationale Menneskerettighedsinstitution.|isbn=978-87-93241-79-4|pages=26, 40, 49, 59, 71, 84, 101, 114, 126}}</ref>

==Changes from 2008 / 2009==
[[2008 Greenlandic self-government referendum|A referendum on the law on self-government]] was held in Greenland on 25 November 2008. A large majority of 75.5% voted in favour of extended self-government. The law is to be seen as a step towards independence from Denmark. On 21 June 2009, an extended agreement on [[autonomy]] came into force. Only foreign and defence policy remained in Danish responsibility. The Greenlandic government took over responsibilities for the police, justice, and coastal protection.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greenland|url=http://www.stm.dk/_p_13090.html|website=stm.dk|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref> Those that affect Navy provision include:
* Greenland's government will be given significant autonomy in determining [[Foreign policy|foreign affairs]].
* Many aspects of foreign affairs policy will no longer be linked to Danish policy.
* Control of the militarised Greenlandic Coast Guard will be transferred to the Government of Greenland.
* The Greenlandic government will take control of policing, including the police motor launches currently trained to assist the military in the [[Island Command Greenland]].

== Recent challenges ==
There are many new challenges that Greenland has to face today. New sea routes lead past Greenland that require special protection. Ice cap melting may increase the availability of [[raw material]]s that must be protected.<ref name=":3" /> The likelihood of military conflict in Greenland is small; however, a relevant defence in the [[Arctic]] region is at the core of Danish defence priorities.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Moe Elgsaas|first=Ingvill|year=2018|title=The Arctic in Russia's Emergency Preparedness System|journal=Arctic Review on Law and Politics|volume=9|pages=287–311|doi=10.23865/arctic.v9.1131|issn=2387-4562|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ackrén|first1=Maria|last2=Jakobsen|first2=Uffe|date=2014-09-09|title=Greenland as a self-governing sub-national territory in international relations: past, current and future perspectives|journal=Polar Record|volume=51|issue=4|pages=404–412|doi=10.1017/s003224741400028x|s2cid=129476352|issn=0032-2474}}</ref>  The country's naval presence and activities are based on close relationships with the local populations and authorities of both Greenland and the [[Faroe Islands]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rosamond|first=Annika Bergman|title=The Kingdom of Denmark and the Arctic|journal=Handbook of the Politics of the Arctic|year=2015|pages=501–516|doi=10.4337/9780857934741.00036|isbn=9780857934741}}</ref> It is in no doubt important to the Danish armed forces' future presence in the Arctic to continue to strengthen and develop this relationship.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hønneland, Geir.|title=The politics of the Arctic|date=2013|publisher=Edward Elgar Pub. Ltd|isbn=978-1-78471-449-9|oclc=987160679}}</ref> The [[Effects of climate change|consequences of climate change]] will likely not only bring better maritime accessibility but also an increased interest in the extraction of natural resources, as well as intensified scientific and commercial activity.<ref name=":3" /> There is also a significant increase in military activity in the region.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Kristensen|first1=Kristian Søby|last2=Rahbek-Clemmensen|first2=Jon|title=Greenland and the international politics of a changing Arctic : postcolonial paradiplomacy between high and low politics|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-315-16264-5|oclc=1031479611}}</ref> Accordingly, the geopolitical importance of the Arctic will become increasingly significant in the years to come.

Military efforts in the Arctic are strengthened by:<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=DEFENCE AGREEMENT 2018 - 2023|url=https://fmn.dk/temaer/forsvarsforlig/Documents/danish-defence-agreement-2018-2023-pdfa.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417205121/http://www.fmn.dk/temaer/forsvarsforlig/Documents/danish-defence-agreement-2018-2023-pdfa.pdf |archive-date=2018-04-17 |url-status=live|website=Forsvarsministeriet}}</ref> 
* The Arctic Agreement of December 2016, which augments surveillance, command, control, communication, and operational efforts in the Arctic Region, is continued. New operational initiatives can be re-prioritised within the framework of the Agreement. An annually allocated sum of 120 million [[Danish krone|DKK]] for initiatives, with a total sum of 720 million DKK after six years. Furthermore, a total of 235 million DKK will be allocated through the Defence Agreement to the following additional initiatives. 
* Equipment to prevent pollution in the waters around Greenland. 
* An increased focus on different education methods. The important issues are now civil preparedness and contingency education, as well as other projects such as the Greenland Guard.
* Initial [[conscription]] enrolment assessments to be carried out in Greenland for volunteers who want to sign up for national service. 
* Subsidised travel schemes for Greenlandic conscripts to travel home.
* More apprentice positions for secondary school students to be established in connection to Armed Forces units. 
* A contribution to the mapping of the ice chart north of 62°N and to the new land mapping of Greenland.
* The Ministry of Defence will finance the operational costs of the radio room at the maritime emergency radio in Greenland.

New [[naval ship]]s solve environmental protection and pollution control tasks.<ref name=":3" /> The Parties note that the tender for new [[pollution]] control ships will be reconsidered in order to further examine a solution where new military vessels, in addition to their operational military tasks, when necessary, can also solve environmental protection and pollution control tasks.<ref name=":4" /> Denmark does not have a specific coast guard entity, as the Royal Danish Navy ([[Royal Danish Navy|Søværnet]]) is responsible for providing the services that would normally fall to a coast guard. The Navy is thus used by various agencies to carry out search and rescue, navigation assistance, environmental protection, and fisheries inspections, in addition to sovereignty and maritime surveillance. Today, the Danish Navy is divided into the First and Second Squadrons. While the Second Squadron is focused on foreign operations, the first squadron has responsibility for internal affairs, which includes the [[Atlantic Ocean|northern Atlantic]] (Greenland) and the North Sea (Faroe Islands). Responsibility for coast guard tasks, therefore, falls under the first squadron headquarters in [[Frederikshavn]], as well as the newly established [[Joint Arctic Command]] in Nuuk, Greenland (Danish Ministry of Defence 2011). The Joint Arctic Command is responsible for overseeing all maritime activity in the waters around Greenland and the Faroe Islands so that the Danish Navy and the local authorities are in close coordination in crisis situations in the High North.

== Tasked forces ==
The 1st Squadron of the [[Royal Danish Navy]] is primarily focused on national operations in and around the Faroe Islands and Greenland. As of 2023, the 1st Squadron is composed of:

* Four {{sclass|Thetis|patrol vessel|1}}s; 
* Three {{sclass|Knud Rasmussen|patrol vessel|1}}s; and,
* The [[royal yacht]] {{ship|HDMY|Dannebrog|A540|6}} (having a secondary surveillance and sea-rescue role)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Structure of the Navy |url=https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/organisation/navy/structure-of-the-navy/ |website=Danish Defence |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref>

After 2025 the ''Thetis''-class vessels are to be replaced by the planned MPV80-class vessels, built by Odense Maritime Technology and SH Defence. The new vessels will incorporate a modular concept enabling packages of different systems (for [[minehunter|minehunting]] or [[minelaying]] for example) to be fitted to individual ships as may be required.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Denmark's new modular patrol boats will tackle a changing Arctic |url=https://www.popsci.com/technology/denmark-arctic-patrol-boats/ |website=Popular Science |date= 3 July 2023 |last=Atherton |first=Kelsey}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Denmark is stepping up as an Arctic sea power |url=https://polarjournal.ch/en/2023/07/12/denmark-is-stepping-it-up-as-an-arctic-sea-power/ |website=Polar Journal |date= 12 July 2023 |last=McGwin |first=Kevin}}</ref>

The Joint Arctic Command of the Danish Armed Forces and the Greenland police are jointly responsible for search and rescue in Greenland. In addition to naval units, Greenland's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) is able to call on [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|C-130J]] and [[Bombardier Challenger 600 series|Challenger 604 aircraft]] of the [[Royal Danish Air Force]] if available. The C-130J is specifically tasked with the re-supply of Danish forces in Greenland. The Challenger 604 is also tasked with assisting in surveillance missions in the Arctic area and since 2021 one aircraft has been permanently stationed in [[Kangerlussuaq]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Search and Rescue Service in Greenland SAR - Greenland |url=https://www.forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---varnsfalles/ako/dokumenter/2021/-210727-sar-greenland-vol-i-june-2020-english-version-1.0-.pdf |website=Rescue Council for Shipping and Aviation |date=June 2020 |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Viking Warriors: What does the future hold for the Royal Danish Air Force |url=https://www.key.aero/article/viking-warriors-what-does-future-hold-royal-danish-air-force |website=Key Aero |date= 12 December 2022 |last=Augustesen |first=Søren}}</ref> In early 2024, agreement was reached in the [[Danish Parliament]] on a defence package that incorporated the planned future deployment of improved surveillance assets in Greenland consisting of long-range [[Unmanned Air Vehicle|UAVs]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Agreement Secures Danish Drone Surveillance in the Arctic |url=https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/new-agreement-secures-danish-drone-surveillance-arctic |website=High North News |date= 24 January 2024 |last=Edvardsen |first=Astri}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Arctic Command|Joint Arctic Command]]
* [[Military of Denmark]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* Archer, Clive. "Greenland, US bases and missile defence: new two-level negotiations?
* NASA, T. Greicius; "Greenland's Rapid Melt Will Mean More Flooding"; (2019)
* O'connor Tom, Newsweek; "Russia says Donald Trump has the right to try to buy Greenland" (2019)
* Policy and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020. 439–452
* Pompeo, Michael R. "Looking North: Sharpening America's Arctic Focus." US Department of State 6 (2019)
* Rahbek-Clemmensen, Jon. "The Arctic turn: How did the High North become a foreign and security policy priority for Denmark?" Greenland and the International Politics of a Changing
* Rottem Svein Vigeland. "The Arctic Council: Between environmental protection and geopolitics." The Arctic Council. Palgrave Pivot, Singapore, 2020. 91–95
* Slim Allagui, PHYSORG, "Greenland becomes new promised land for oil firms"; (2011)
* Sørensen, Camilla Tenna Nørup, and Mikkel Runge Olesen. "Stormagtsspillet i Arktis udfordrer småstaterne. Erfaringer fra Finland, Norge og Island." (2019)
* The Guardian. "Independent Greenland 'could not afford' to sign up to Paris climate deal" (2016)
* Vidal, John. "Time to listen to the ice scientists about the arctic death spiral." The Guardian 18 (2016)
* Wang Nils, and Damien Degeorges. "Greenland and the New Arctic: Political and security implications of a statebuilding project." (2014)
* Wiseman, Matthew S. "The Future of the Arctic Council." The Palgrave Handbook of Arctic

{{Greenland topics}}
{{Military of Denmark}}
{{Military of Europe}}
{{Military of North America}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenland military history}}
[[Category:Military of Greenland| ]]
[[Category:Military of Denmark]]