The Chairman of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee will adapt the strategy from 2024 – and sees military buildup as necessary insurance against the USA.
Greenland should abandon the principle of low tension and strengthen its military presence – at least temporarily.
This is the opinion of Pipaluk Lynge (IA), chairman of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee, who wants to renegotiate the Greenland government’s foreign policy strategy from 2024.
The announcement comes in the wake of criticism from Pele Broberg, chairman of Naleraq, who sees the military buildup in Greenland as a potential provocation towards Russia.
– It’s a bit like plague or cholera. When we already have Trump and the USA as allies, we also have to satisfy him so that he doesn’t need to take over for their security, Pipaluk Lynge tells KNR.
New foreign policy strategy
The Greenlandic foreign policy strategy applies from 2024 to 2033. The document mentions “low tension” nine times and “peace” a full 26 times – and states that Greenland does not want an increased military presence.
But that view is now under pressure.
Although it has only been a year since the strategy came into effect, Pipaluk Lynge wants it to be discussed again and adapted to the new world situation.
– The world has changed and the future is unpredictable. That is why I believe we must adapt our foreign policy strategy, even if it is from last year, says Pipaluk Lynge.
The Chairman of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee mentions the United States in particular in view of the changed world situation.
Although she agrees with the head of Arctic Command that the United States is an ally and Russia may pose a threat in the future, former intelligence officer Malcolm Nance’s statements to KNR have taken root.
– When we have been told by Nance that it will only take a few military people to take over overnight, we have to adapt to the realities that are there.
Drop low voltage – for now
Last week, KNR asked Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen whether the Ilulissat Declaration and the desire for low voltage are dead. Here she answered, among other things:
– I understand that there was an original desire for low tension. But everyone can see that tensions are rising. We live in a more troubled world; a more dangerous world. That is why we are significantly rearming everywhere.
The same attitude towards low voltage is shared by Pipaluk Lynge. She adds that Greenland still wants peace – but believes that low voltage is no longer realistic.
– It’s not realistic today. We have to keep an eye on the submarines and ships that sail around our coast. It takes men. But I hope one day we can return to low voltage.
Pipaluk Lynge refers to previous statements from US President Donald Trump, who last week reiterated that he does not rule out taking over Greenland by military force.
NBC News: Would you rule out military force to take Canada?Donald Trump: I don’t think we’ll ever get to that point. It could happen with Greenland.*Trump won’t to rule out military force against Canada—though he says it’s more likely against Greenland.pic.twitter.com/XTLuAQydXb
Therefore, Pipaluk Lynge emphasizes that it is necessary to move away from the idea of low voltage for a while, as long as the USA threatens to take over Greenland.
– I hope we don’t get taken over by Trump and his military people. The world is very unpredictable. That’s why we only know what to do when we know who is sailing outside our coasts. But other nations know that we are not aggressive towards other countries.
How do you get the population involved in an arms race that is also on Greenlandic terms, so that you don’t just blindly follow the US and Denmark?
How do you get the population involved in an arms race that is also on Greenlandic terms, so that you don’t just blindly follow the US and Denmark?
– We already do that. Vivian Motzfeldt (S) talks a lot with Troels Lund Poulsen (the Minister of Defense in Denmark, ed.). I expect that the Greenland government supports what is happening. We just need to inform the population that we are still a peaceful people, but that realities have pressured us to increase surveillance and the military presence.
the Minister of Defense in Denmark, ed.
KNR has attempted to get a comment from Vivian Motzfeldt (S), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greenland, about Greenland’s foreign policy strategy, armaments and the security situation. She has not responded.