Concept
The Greenland–Arctic Security Framework refers to the evolving geopolitical, military, and strategic architecture governing security in the Arctic region, with Greenland as a central node due to its location between North America and Europe and its proximity to the North Atlantic–Arctic corridor.
Why Greenland Is Strategically Central
- Geographic chokepoint between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic
- Forms part of the GIUK Gap (Greenland–Iceland–UK), a critical maritime and air surveillance zone
- Ideal location for early-warning, missile defence, and space surveillance systems
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the , making Arctic security both a national and alliance-level issue.
Military and Defence Dimension
- Hosts the (formerly Thule Air Base)
- Integral to ballistic missile early warning
- Supports space situational awareness and NORAD operations
- Increased NATO patrols, air policing, and naval presence in the High North
- Arctic militarisation driven by:
- Long-range missiles
- Hypersonic weapons
- Submarine and under-ice warfare capabilities
Role of NATO and Western Alliances
- increasingly treats the Arctic as a single strategic theatre
- Arctic-facing NATO members include:
- USA
- Canada
- Denmark (via Greenland)
- Norway
- Iceland
- Finland and Sweden (post-accession)
- Focus areas:
- Deterrence and surveillance
- Secure sea lines of communication
- Protection of undersea cables and energy infrastructure
Great Power Competition
- Russia
- Largest Arctic coastline
- Extensive network of Arctic military bases
- Emphasises Northern Fleet and nuclear deterrence
- China
- Self-declared “near-Arctic state”
- Polar research, satellite tracking, and infrastructure investments
- Greenland has witnessed heightened scrutiny of foreign investments, especially in mining, ports, and rare-earth projects.
Economic and Resource Security
- Arctic holds:
- Oil and gas reserves
- Rare earth elements
- Critical minerals essential for EVs and defence technologies
- Melting ice opens new shipping routes, raising concerns over:
- Freedom of navigation
- Search and rescue coordination
- Environmental disaster response
Environmental and Human Security Layer
- Climate change acts as a threat multiplier
- Melting permafrost and sea ice destabilise:
- Military infrastructure
- Indigenous livelihoods
- Coastal settlements
- Security planning increasingly integrates:
- Disaster preparedness
- Environmental monitoring
- Civil–military coordination
Legal and Governance Framework
- Governed through a mix of:
- National sovereignty (Denmark–Greenland)
- (non-military cooperation)
- UNCLOS provisions on maritime zones
- No single comprehensive Arctic security treaty, unlike Antarctica
Contemporary Significance
The Greenland–Arctic security framework reflects a shift from low-tension cooperation to hard security competition, where climate change, emerging sea routes, and great-power rivalry intersect. Greenland’s role has expanded from a peripheral territory to a core strategic asset in trans-Atlantic and polar security calculations.
