Denmark and Greenland could settle on NMD next week

SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS SERVICE

NUUK – Denmark and Greenland are close to a deal that would pave the way for the U.S. to upgrade the Thule air base, as part of the missile defence shield the U.S. wants to build.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Hans Enoksen expected the agreement to be signed next week in the tiny seal-fishing community of Itilleq, Enoksen’s home community.

Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Per Stig Møller said he planned to visit Greenland this week to meet with Enoksen and review proposals that would give more autonomy to Greenland in international affairs. Enoksen wants this settled before accepting any changes to the 1951 Danish-American Defence Agreement on Thule.

As part of any Thule upgrade into a missile defence site, Greenlandic politicians are also demanding that the U.S. clean up Thule’s 50 contaminated dump sites.

Hingitaq 53, the group that represents Greenlanders relocated to make room for Thule in the 1950s, also wants its legal case for compensation to be settled before any deal on Thule goes ahead.