DIIS senior researcher Ulrik Pram Gad has published a new policy brief ahead of his October 29 public seminar at the University of Greenland, examining how military installations can support civilian needs and development in neighboring communities.
As GreenlandEnergy.com reported on October 18, the seminar is hosted by Nasiffik, the university’s Center for Foreign and Security Policy. It will explore how Greenland approaches military installations and how local interests can be reflected in decisions about their future.
Published on October 22, Gad’s brief, Military Bases in Greenland Old and New: How to Secure Meaningful Local ‘Dual Use’,(English PDF file) is available in English and Greenlandic. It considers the changing balance between keeping bases separate from civilian society, securing national economic benefits, and supporting services in nearby communities.
The discussion comes while practical requirements for an expanded U.S. military presence are still being assessed.
In an October 20 report, Defense One quoted an unnamed senior U.S. defense official describing the needs planners must consider:
“I need to think about lodging, I need to think about food. I need to think about energy.”
The official described assessing what individual locations could support and where strategic investments could help, with specific deployments still undecided. Those remarks give timely context to the seminar’s focus on how civilian interests can enter the planning process.
The university’s event announcement emphasizes that meaningful local benefits require agreements in advance and continuing community involvement. It also notes that Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq, Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig present very different circumstances.
The public seminar takes place Thursday, October 29, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. local time in the Ilisimatusarfik auditorium in Nuuk. It will be conducted in Danish. Gad confirms that participation is in person only. Further details are available Linkedin and Facebook
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