In October this year, the Danish Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen (League) and naalakkersuisoq for Foreign Affairs and Research Vivian Motzfeldt (Siumut) presented Part 2 regarding the Arctic and the North Atlantic from 2025-33.
A total of 27.4 billion kroner was allocated for initiatives on land, at sea and in the air. Partial agreement 2 was an extension of partial agreement 1, which was adopted in January 2025, and in which 15 billion kroner was allocated to strengthen the defense in the Arctic and Greenland.
Priority list sent to minister
The Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) party in the Danish Parliament has now prepared a priority list for a possible partial agreement III, which has also been shared with Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen.
– It is clear that there are still tasks to be solved in the field of defence. We still lack readiness, more information for the population and follow-up on partial agreement II. I think it is important that we are always a few steps ahead and therefore I have made my input for a partial agreement III and shared it with the Minister of Defence, says member of the Folketing for Inuit Ataqatigiit, Aaja Chemnitz to Sermitsiaq.
Increased surveillance
According to the IA, the purpose of the priorities is to clarify Greenland's priorities based on the Greenlandic foreign policy strategy, relevant Arctic strategies and NATO's strength goals. This is a prerequisite for the Arctic Capability Package to be implemented.
Among the priorities are increased surveillance, for example with communication satellites, Space Domain Awareness and information efforts for citizens about increased surveillance.
Cybersecurity training
Cybersecurity is also among the priority topics. For example, information material on online safety should be prepared for middle school students, as well as recommendations on IT security screenings in companies and public authorities.
In relation to the protection of critical infrastructure, according to the IA, a plan should be drawn up for the protection of airports and ports.
In addition, the ports of Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Qasigiannguit, Aasiaat and Tasiilaq should be expanded, and the Personal Data Act should be updated.
Arctic naval training
In the area of education and research, a partial agreement 3 should ensure an expansion of the Arctic Basic Education to 80 students, and according to the IA, an Arctic Naval Education should also be established. Finally, the possibility of testing for military service in Greenland should be resumed.
Part 3 should also include more dual-use, for example in the form of an expansion of the Arctic Circle Road so that the road can also be used militarily, and in addition, ensure that Royal Arctic Line's feeder ships are equipped with icebreaking capacity.
National vulnerability assessment
Finally, there is the entire emergency preparedness area, where a sub-agreement 3 should include a national vulnerability assessment for Greenland, a strengthening of crisis preparedness in Greenland and a preparation of action plans based on previous experiences with power outages, etc. This also includes better securing of energy, food, medicine, electricity and water supplies.
In close dialogue with Naalakkersuisut
Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen tells Sermitsiaq that he takes note
Aaja Chemnitz's wish to further strengthen defense and preparedness in Greenland, but that there are no plans for a partial agreement 3 at this time.
– In close dialogue with the Greenlandic government Naalakkersuisut and the Faroese government, we have reached Partial Agreements 1 and 2 on the Arctic and the North Atlantic in 2025. These are large and important agreements with a total value of over 42 billion kroner over the coming years and which deliver in a number of key areas, including new Arctic ships, maritime patrol aircraft and enhanced satellite capacity, surveillance and signal acquisition. In addition, the military presence is being increased with a new military unit under the Arctic Command, and a new military headquarters for the Arctic Command is being established in Nuuk.
– As stated in UDSYN 2025, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service assesses that
Russia, China and the USA have different interests in the Arctic, but they all want
to play a greater role in the region. The Danish Defence presence in the region
is significantly strengthened with the two partial agreements, and this is work that we will follow up on
in the coming years, says Troels Lund Poulsen.
