Denmark, Greenland, and Faroe Islands meet to address Arctic Ambassador dispute in Aalborg

Following Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s opening address at the Folketing on October 3, 2022, there were promises of action regarding the unresolved dispute between Greenland and Denmark over the position of Arctic Ambassador. Nearly 11 months later, the issue remains unresolved. The Prime Minister’s Office has refrained from commenting on the matter but expects it to be discussed during a foreign, security, and defense policy meeting today in Aalborg with top ministers from Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

Aaja Chemnitz, an MP from the IA party in Greenland, stresses that it is the Danish government’s responsibility to find a solution that Greenland can accept, advocating for an Arctic Ambassador from the Arctic itself, rather than an outsider unfamiliar with Greenlandic society.

Since the establishment of the Arctic Ambassador position in 2012, five Danish nationals have held the role, which is meant to represent the Kingdom’s interests in the Arctic on the world stage. Recent appointments, notably the designation of Tobias Elling Rehfeld in March 2023, have sparked frustration in Greenland as it marked the fifth appointment of a Danish individual.

The lack of a unified Arctic strategy involving Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands stands in stark contrast to other Arctic nations which have developed such strategies. With Denmark poised to take over the presidency of the Arctic Council in May, the absence of a cohesive strategy raises concerns about its ability to effectively lead, especially given the current pause in operations due to geopolitical tensions, notably following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Both Chemnitz and political analysts warn that without a clear Arctic policy and collaboration among the Kingdom’s regions, Denmark risks losing its standing as a central Arctic state, which is increasingly becoming a point of embarrassment alongside the growing number of nations that have developed their own Arctic strategies. Greenland is prepared to negotiate a common approach, contingent upon its own foreign policy strategy, but the urgency for resolution is escalating.