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By Rich Percival
Associate News Editor
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President Donald Trump's plans to expand America's military presence in Greenland could threaten traditional hunting livelihoods by disturbing narwhals and polar bears, the leader of the remotest inhabited community in the entire Western Hemisphere has warned.
Hans Brønlund, chairman of the local committee in Ittoqqortoormiit, a remote settlement in eastern Greenland with a population of 329 people, fears increased American military activity could disturb wildlife on which local hunters depend.
His warning comes as Denmark prepares to debate a security agreement with Washington and the Danish territory that would allow the United States to establish additional defense areas at Mestersvig and Narsarsuaq, subject to further arrangements.
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Brønlund has written to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, demanding that residents be consulted about decisions affecting their community.
Hunting Tradition in Greenland
Hunting remains an important source of food, income and cultural identity in Ittoqqortoormiit, where residents already grapple with declining hunter numbers and the effects of climate change.
The proposed American expansion could increase military activity in a region where traditional livelihoods depend on access to wildlife and remote hunting grounds.
Brønlund's concerns center on Mestersvig, an existing Danish military outpost approximately 150 miles from Ittoqqortoormiit, which could become an additional American defense area.
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He fears increased military operations could disturb narwhals in the surrounding fjords and polar bears in the region, affecting local hunters' ability to earn a living.
"We do not want Americans here near Ittoqqortoormiit. We do not want to be a shield for their country," Brønlund told Greenlandic public broadcaster KNR.
His concerns about an expanded military presence are closely linked to fears of increased American interest in Greenland's oil and mineral resources.
"If he starts establishing a base at Mestersvig, he might also start thinking about digging for minerals and oil," Brønlund said.
He also criticized the prospect of decisions being made without meaningful involvement from the community.
"It cannot be right that you sit in Copenhagen and Nuuk and make such big decisions over our heads," he wrote in an open letter addressed to Frederiksen, Nielsen and Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq Mayor Avaaraq S. Olsen.
Newsweek has approached the Danish Prime Minister's Office for comment.
The security agreement, signed in September, provides for expanded American military access to Greenland, including additional rights for aircraft and vessels.
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However, Article VI requires these rights to be exercised in a manner that respects Greenlandic society and its traditional way of life, including hunting and fishing, "to the maximum extent possible."
The agreement does not establish that increased military activity will harm wildlife or hunting, and detailed operational arrangements for the proposed defense areas remain to be negotiated.
What Greenland's Parliament Said
Greenland's parliament, the Inatsisartut, approved the security agreement with the United States and Denmark on November 3, with 16 lawmakers voting in favor, none against and seven abstaining.
However, written statements published by the parliament ahead of its October 12 debate, and examined by Newsweek, reveal concerns about environmental safeguards, public consultation and the consequences of expanded American military activity.
Mimi Karlsen, of the governing Inuit Ataqatigiit party, supported the agreement but warned that its implementation must take account of traditional hunting livelihoods.
"We must also consider the consequences for natural resources, traffic, hunting and fishing," she said in her party's written statement.
"The agreement states that people's lives, hunting and fishing must be respected as far as possible."
Karlsen also questioned who would oversee American military operations, who would be responsible for accidents and how environmental cleanup would be ensured.
Opposition politician Pele Broberg, of Naleraq, questioned whether the agreement offered sufficient protection against disruption.
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"There is a difference between being obliged to take account of something and guaranteeing a particular result," he said in his party's statement.
The former Greenlandic foreign minister also challenged the environmental provisions, arguing that they did not guarantee the United States would pay the full cost of cleaning up military pollution.
Siumut politician Erik Jensen criticized the lack of public involvement in negotiations.
"We support the agreement, but we criticize the way the negotiations have been conducted," he said.
His party called for greater consultation and oversight, including public meetings and stronger commitments on cleaning up military pollution.
Meanwhile, Atassut leader Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen supported the agreement but urged continued scrutiny of Greenland's relationship with Washington.
"The United States is our friend. But that does not mean we expect our friend always to be friendly," he said.
The three governing parties—Demokraatit, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Atassut—voted in favor, alongside independent lawmaker Kim Kielsen. Opposition party Naleraq abstained, citing concerns about the lack of guaranteed financial benefits for Greenland, while Siumut supported the agreement but did not participate in the vote because its lawmakers were absent.
Denmark to Debate Security Deal
Denmark's parliament is scheduled to begin debating the agreement on November 12, with a second and final reading planned for November 19.
Newsweek has learned that foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen is scheduled to brief lawmakers on the agreement November 11.
The 45-minute briefing, beginning at 2 p.m., will take place before the Folketing's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, with members of the Greenland Committee and Foreign Policy Council also invited.
The agreement would permit additional American military activity at Mestersvig, although further negotiations are needed to determine the operational arrangements.
It remains unclear whether specific environmental assessments have been conducted into the potential effects of expanded operations on narwhals, polar bears and traditional hunting grounds.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense for comment.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins
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