Denmark or Greenland in the Arctic Council chair?

FNI Report 5/2024. Lysaker, FNI, 2024, 8 p. 

The Kingdom of Denmark consists of three countries, Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, the latter being located in the Arctic and the reason why the Kingdom has a seat in the Arctic Council. According to the Constitution, Denmark is responsible for foreign policy on behalf of the Kingdom. On this basis, Denmark has led the Kingdom's presence in the Arctic Council, including the previous chairmanship of the Arctic Council from 2009 to 2011.

Greenland is in a process towards full independence and has gradually gained more autonomy in several policy areas, including many addressed by the Arctic Council.  In these areas, Greenland has also been granted the right to negotiate and conclude international agreements on behalf of the Kingdom.

Greenland believes that its natural interest in the Arctic has not been translated into sufficient influence on the Kingdom's Arctic policy. In the run-up to the Kingdom's Arctic Council in 2025-2027, the Greenlandic demand is not just for more influence, but to take the lead in the Arctic Council for the Kingdom. This is demonstrated by the insistence that a Kingdom Arctic Strategy can only be concluded after a Greenlandic Arctic Strategy has been adopted, and that the Kingdom's Arctic Ambassador shall be Greenlandic and appointed by Greenland.

With the Arctic chairmanship very close, Greenland is in a favorable position, and the Danish government is now likely to accept the Greenlandic demand, which implies that Greenland will take the lead in running the chairmanship.  However, Greenland will not be able to handle this difficult task alone. There is a lack of resources in Greenland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Arctic Council is currently in a difficult situation with international political repercussions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The chairmanship will therefore have to be carried out with the support of and in close cooperation with Denmark.

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