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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation US, Denmark and Greenland: Thule Upgrade agreement, August 6, 2004The US, Denmark and Greenland have signed a cooperation agreement allowing the US to go ahead with upgrades to the Thule radar in Greenland that will enable the US to develop its missile defence programme. The agreement states that the US will "consult with and inform" Denmark and Greenland prior to future significant changes at Thule air base, but neither Denmark nor Greenland would have any veto over such developments. U.S. officials have refused to publicly describe the future architecture of the system at Thule and have refused to rule out the possibility that interceptor missiles may be based there in future. Many Greenlanders have opposed developments at the Thule air base. US Secretary of State Colin Powell also signed agreements to work to pursue areas of economic cooperation with Greenland and to uphold at a minimum Greenland's environmental standards. Although Greenland attempted to negotiate a United States cleanup at other former U.S. bases on the island, Powell said the responsibility previously was transferred to Greenland and would remain there. Full text of the agreement is below, followed by an interview by US Secretary of State Colin Powell with Jens Moeller of Greenland TV. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK, INCLUDING THE HOME RULE GOVERNMENT OF GREENLAND, TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT OF 27 APRIL 1951 PURSUANT TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK CONCERNING THE DEFENSE OF GREENLAND (DEFENSE AGREEMENT) INCLUDING RELEVANT SUBSEQUENT AGREEMENTS RELATED THERETOThe Parties - Considering the development of Greenland since the conclusion of the Defense Agreement, including the change of Greenland's status from colony to that of an equal part of the Kingdom of Denmark under the Constitution and the establishment of a wide ranging Greenland Home Rule; - Considering that the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark always consults and cooperates closely with the Home Rule Government of Greenland in affairs of state of particular importance to Greenland; - Considering United States military activities since the conclusion of the Defense Agreement, including the reduction of defense areas in Greenland; - Wishing to facilitate and improve local cooperation between the United States military authorities and the Danish authorities, including Greenland Home Rule authorities; - Considering their common goal of international peace and peaceful co-existence, and respecting the important contribution of Greenland to this end; - Acknowledging Greenland´s contribution to the mutual security interests and its consequent sharing of the associated risks and responsibilities, and the commitment of the Parties to continuing close cooperation within NATO in ensuring North Atlantic security, NOTE and AGREE as follows: Article 1: Defense Areas 1. Thule Air Base is the only defense area in Greenland. The provisions of Article II of the Defense Agreement shall apply to the establishment of new defense areas. 2. The flag of the Kingdom of Denmark, the flag of Greenland and the flag of the United States shall fly over Thule Air Base. To facilitate cooperation concerning the protection and internal security of Thule Air Base, Danish and Greenland authorities shall assist the United States authorities as requested and appropriate, and consistent with existing agreements and arrangements. Article 2: NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1. The Parties note that the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA) has applied in Greenland since 1955. 2. The Parties agree that the terms of Article VII of the Defense Agreement shall apply as a supplementary agreement to the NATO SOFA between the Parties. 3. The Parties agree that the terms of Article VIII of the Defense Agreement are superseded by the corresponding provisions of the NATO SOFA. 4. The Parties agree that the terms of Article IX of the Defense Agreement shall apply as a supplementary agreement to the NATO SOFA between the Parties. 5. The Parties agree that the first sentence of Article X of the Defense Agreement is deleted, and that the term "such NATO agreement" in that Article refers to the NATO SOFA. Article 3: Local Cooperation 1. The Parties confirm that: a. The provision contained in the final clause of the second sentence of Article VI of the Defense Agreement, relating to contact between United States personnel and the local population, was revoked in 1986 and is not in effect. b. In the exceptional case of planned landings of military aircraft in Greenland outside airports, the Government of the United States consults with and informs the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland, in order to ensure due protection of the environment and hunting areas in Greenland. c. Consistent with the Defense Agreement, as amended herein, and the Memorandum of Understanding of March 13, 1991, and without prejudice to other relevant agreements and arrangements between the Parties, the Government of the United States will consult with and inform the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland, prior to the implementation of any significant changes to United States military operations or facilities in Greenland. 2. The Parties agree that to enhance local cooperation a. The Home Rule Government of Greenland may appoint a representative with whom the U.S. commanding officer at Thule Air Base will consult on local affairs that affect the Home Rule Government of Greenland. The appointment of such a representative does not affect the status of the Danish liaison officer in relation to the U.S. commanding officer. b. The Parties note and declare that they shall consult without undue delay regarding any question which one of the Parties may raise concerning matters pertaining to the U.S. military presence in Greenland and covered by the Defense Agreement and this agreement. To the extent that such matters cannot be resolved through local consultation, the Parties shall consult with each other either in the Permanent Committee or through diplomatic channels, as appropriate. Article 4: Entry Into Force and Amendment This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature, and shall remain in force for the duration of the Defense Agreement. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the Parties. Done at _____ this _____ day of ______ 2004 in duplicate, in the English and Danish languages, both texts being equally authentic. For the Government of the United States of America ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... …. XXX For the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland ……………………………. XXX For the Government of Denmark .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . XXX For the Home Rule Government of Greenland US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Interview with Jens Moeller of Greenland TVSecretary Colin L. Powell MR. MOELLER: Mr. Secretary, welcome to Greenland. SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you. I'm delighted to be here. MR. MOELLER: Mr. Secretary, what does this treaty mean to the United States? SECRETARY POWELL: Really, what it means for the United States and for Greenland and for the Kingdom of Denmark, it shows a maturing of the relationship between the three of us. It is not just a single treaty updating the 1951 agreement, but I'm also here to sign other understandings and agreements that have to do with economic activity, that have to do with environmental issues. And it just shows that a maturing of the relationship is a good thing for all of us, and I am very pleased to be able to do it. MR. MOELLER: Does the Greenlandic signing of this treaty means that, in the future, Greenland will be an equal partner with the U.S., when it comes to Greenlandic issues? SECRETARY POWELL: Well, as you know, we would do everything in our power to discuss with Greenlanders any issue that might come up in the future, and I think the updated agreement provides for a consultation so that we are partners and we would move forward together. The terms of the agreement, were worked at very, very carefully and thoroughly to make sure that all parties have their equities protected and we view this as a partnership with Greenland and with the Kingdom of Denmark, in order to make sure that we move forward as friends and partners, as we have for so many, many years. MR. MOELLER: What do you see as the most significant change in this treaty compared to the '51 treaty? SECRETARY POWELL: The biggest thing is that it allows us to make some software and minor hardware changes to our facility at Thule. It won't be noticeable, really, I think, to any of the inhabitants of Greenland and it allows us to make sure that we are providing for the kinds of threats that the civilized world might see in the future, from those nations in the world who don't understand that threatening anybody with any kind of weapons is not the way of the future. But, nevertheless, we have to protect ourselves, and this is a way of providing protection to all of the civilized world, not just the United States, not just to Greenland, and not just to Denmark. But I think it shows that nations have to work together to deal with the threats of the 21st Century and this agreement updates from where we were 50 years ago. MR. MOELLER: So this alliance is good politically? SECRETARY POWELL: Politically, I think it is an excellent alliance. It has benefited all of the parties for so many years and I think it will continue to benefit the parties, more so in the future, as we look at these technical and economic issues that we're going to be pursuing, cooperative projects, and as you know, an Implementation Committee will be meeting in the very near future and Ambassador Stuart Bernstein, the United States Ambassador, will be leading our part of this Commission. MR. MOELLER: The next natural step would be, now that you have an upgrade, it would be an upgrade to use it until you can use the facilities, as part of the missile defense system, when will that happen, if it will happen? SECRETARY POWELL: Well, there are no plans right now to go to that level. Right now, we are just interested in the software and minor hardware improvements to the system that Greenland is aware of and that Denmark is aware of. MR. MOELLER: In the treaty, it states that you have to -- and I quote from the treaty -- that, "you have to consult and inform Denmark and Greenland prior to the implementation of any significant changes to the United States military operations or facilities in Greenland." Does that mean you have to ask if you want to upgrade, or does it mean you have to inform or consult because it seems to have been a bit of confusion here? SECRETARY POWELL: Well, the word I think in the treaty, as you say, is "consult," and that's what we would do. We would do that without a treaty. Denmark and the United States are allies and friends. The United States and Greenland and the Home Rule government, we are friends and partners and what we want to do is consult. We don't want to do anything that would put at risk a very strong relationship that we've had for these many, many years. So I think the word "consult" means just that, consult, and try to reach accommodation on any issue that might be in dispute, as we have done over the years. MR. MOELLER: But consult also means that, in fact, you don't have to ask. SECRETARY POWELL: Consult means consult. MR. MOELLER: The environmental question, if I may move on, has been very important on the part of Greenland and Denmark and you've agreed to make sure that the environmental standards is up to date, regarding the Thule Air Base. But the United States have had a number of bases throughout Greenland. Why not clean them up, as well? SECRETARY POWELL: Well, as you know, this was all dealt with and responsibility for those bases is no longer in U.S. hands, it has reverted back, but we are able under the agreement that we'll be signing today to provide technical assistance and provide guidance and consult with Greenland and Denmark on what more might be done. But the principal responsibility, as a result of previous arrangements, is that the bases have reverted back to Greenland ownership. MR. MOELLER: But am I correct in assuming that the question at least came up during the negotiations? SECRETARY POWELL: Yes, the question does come up, but the question with respect to the older bases has been resolved, and with respect to Thule, we are going to be doing more to make sure that the environment is protected and that we are not doing anything at Thule that would in any way damage this beautiful country. MR. MOELLER: But let me rephrase that because, if I was a guest in your house and you had let me stay overnight and I didn't clean up, you'd probably say I was an unpleasant or a rude guest. Why doesn't that apply to the United States when -- and the environmental problems that it may have caused in Greenland on previous bases? SECRETARY POWELL: Well, because of agreements between host and guest, we did what we were able to do at that time and the responsibility for these places now rests with the host. But at the same time, if we can provide assistance, if we can provide technical suggestions or ideas, we certainly want to do that and the environmental agreement we'll be signing here today provides for that, but these matters were resolved through discussions and mutual agreement by the parties. MR. MOELLER: The treaty, the new treaty means also, sort of, that you confirm that the Thule Air Base is probably going to be there for a number of years to go on. Is that how you see it, as well? SECRETARY POWELL: I think it has a continuing role for a number of years into the future and I think that role benefits all of us, and it will also require considerable funds from the United States Government to support the facility there. And as part of the agreement, we're going to be encouraging those who operate the base, both military and civilian, to hire more and more Greenlanders to participate in the work of the base. So I think it's an economic benefit to Greenland, as well as providing a security benefit to all of us. MR. MOELLER: So, the base as a work place is sort of safe, at least for future years? SECRETARY POWELL: As I see it, yes. MR. MOELLER: Does this treaty have any significance when it comes to United States' fight against terrorism? SECRETARY POWELL: Not directly. I think we are so pleased with the cooperation we get from Denmark and Greenland, to the extent that it can provide any political assistance on the global war against terror. But this air base facility, Thule Air Base, and its facility, is really designed to make sure that we have in place the kinds of surveillance operations and activities that would be useful if these rogue nations, these nations that we know were developing long-range missiles and could carry weapons of mass destruction, actually are able to put these weapons in place. That's not the time then to see whether or not we can locate them and protect ourselves, the time to do that is now, and that's why I think this facility is so important and why it was so important to update the agreement so that it reflects the 21st century world, a world of 2004, not the world of 1951. And I'm pleased that the Home Rule government understood the importance of this, as did Denmark, and three partners working together after a long series of discussions and negotiations were able to update this agreement and the two other side agreements that will be entered into today. MR. MOELLER: Let's look at the side agreements because they're also Greenlanders are -- Greenlandic politicians are hoping for more trade with the U.S. Do you see that as a possibility? SECRETARY POWELL: I think that's a possibility and that's why Ambassador Bernstein has been directed by the President and by me to enter into these discussions with an attitude of finding more economic opportunities for Greenlanders, providing technical assistance to assist Greenland in finding new economic opportunities, new ways of enhancing their economy. That's what we want this to do, economic and technical assistance, of all kinds, and we're going to have a full agenda of items that we can look at, examine, see what more we can do to help Greenland. MR. MOELLER: Greenlandic politicians have, up to this treaty, been talking about maybe you should actually pay to have a base in Greenland to sort of get money back. I also believe that that idea was up during the negotiations. SECRETARY POWELL: It may have been, but that's not the basis of the agreement. And we believe there is significant economic benefit to Greenland and we're all working for a common purpose, and that's to make sure that we're all safe and secure, but the idea of direct payment for the base is not part of the agreement. MR. MOELLER: Mr. Secretary, I think we've used up our time and thank you very much for taking this time. SECRETARY POWELL: Yep. Thank you. It's a delight to be here. I'm the first American Secretary of State to visit Greenland and I'm proud to be that individual. MR. MOELLER: Next time you can come back and maybe you'll go fishing. SECRETARY POWELL: I look forward to that. Thank you. (Laughter.) MR. MOELLER: Thank you. 2004/878 [End] Released on August 6, 2004 Source: US State Department, http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/35018.htm. © 2003 The Acronym Institute. |