Orla Joelsen@OJoelsen
USA wants three new military facilities in Greenland
The United States is quietly negotiating with Denmark to gain access to three additional defense areas in Greenland—beyond Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in northern Greenland.
This was stated by General Gregory Guillot, commander of United States Northern Command, during a Senate hearing in Washington on Thursday, March 19.
At the same time, the American top general described Denmark and Greenland as “highly cooperative,” saying that all U.S. requests are being accommodated and that everything can be handled within the existing 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the United States.
According to General Guillot, there are “three defense areas that we would like to negotiate with Denmark and Greenland about.”
Possible locations
Marc Jacobsen, a lecturer at the Royal Danish Defence College, said the general’s remarks indicate strong communication between senior military officials in Denmark and the U.S.:
“That is positive for Denmark.”
The Senate hearing did not specify which areas are being considered, but Jacobsen suggests three likely candidates:
—Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland, which has a deep-water port
—Kangerlussuaq in southwestern Greenland, capable of handling large aircraft
—A deep-water port near Pituffik Space Base
These locations are notable because they were among the first places where the U.S. established military bases in Greenland.
Source: Berlingske