TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 04-806 

________________________________________________________________________ 

DEFENSE 

Greenland 

 Agreement between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and DENMARK 

Amending and Supplementing the 

Agreement of April 27, 1951 

Signed at Igaliku August 6, 2004 

 with 

Joint Declarations 

 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

 evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
DENMARK 

Defense: Greenland 

 Agreement amending and supplementing 

 the agreement of April 27, 1951. 

 Signed at Igaliku August 6, 2004; 

 Entered into force August 6, 2004. 

 With joint declarations. 
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

KINGDOM OF DENMARK, INCLUDING THE HOME RULE

GOVERNMENT OF GREENLAND, TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT

THE AGREEMENT OF 27 APRIL 1951 PURSUANT TO THE NORTH

ATLANTIC TREATY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

KINGDOM OF DENMARK CONCERNING THE DEFENSE OF

GREENLAND (DEFENSE AGREEMENT) INCLUDING RELEVANT

SUBSEQUENT AGREEMENTS RELATED THERETO

The Parties

- Considering the development of Greenland since the conclusion of the Defense

Agreement, including the change of Greenland's status from colony to that of an

equal part of the Kingdom of Denmark under the Constitution and the

establishment of a wide ranging Greenland Home Rule;

- Considering that the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark always consults

and cooperates closely with the Home Rule Government of Greenland in affairs of

state of particular importance to Greenland;

- Considering United States military activities since the conclusion of the Defense

Agreement, including the reduction of defense areas in Greenland;

- Wishing to facilitate and improve local cooperation between the United States

military authorities and the Danish authorities, including Greenland Home Rule

authorities;

- Considering their common goal of international peace and peaceful co-existence,

and respecting the important contribution of Greenland to this end;

- Acknowledging Greenland's contribution to the mutual security interests and its

consequent sharing of the associated risks and responsibilities, and the commitment

of the Parties to continuing close cooperation within NATO in ensuring North

Atlantic security;

NOTE and AGREE as follows:

Article 1: Defense Areas

1. Thule Air Base is the only defense area in Greenland. The provisions of Article

II of the Defense Agreement shall apply to the establishment of new defense areas.
2. The flag of the Kingdom of Denmark, the flag of Greenland and the flag of the

United States shall fly over Thule Air Base. To facilitate cooperation concerning the

protection and internal security of Thule Air Base, Danish and Greenland

authorities shall assist the United States authorities as requested and appropriate,

and consistent with existing agreements and arrangements.

Article 2: NATO Status of Forces Agreement

1. The Parties note that the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA)

has applied in Greenland since 1955.

2. The Parties agree that the terms of Article VII of the Defense Agreement shall

apply as a supplementary agreement to the NATO SOFA between the Parties.

3. The Parties agree that the terms of Article VIII of the Defense Agreement are

superseded by the corresponding provisions of the NATO SOFA.

4. The Parties agree that the terms of Article IX of the Defense Agreement shall

apply as a supplementary agreement to the NATO SOFA between the Parties.

5. The Parties agree that the first sentence of Article X of the Defense Agreement

is deleted, and that the term "such NATO agreement" in that Article refers to the

NATO SOFA.

Article 3: Local Cooperation

1. The Parties confirm that:

a. The provision contained in the final clause of the second sentence of Article VI

of the Defense Agreement, relating to contact between United States personnel and

the local population, was revoked in 1986 and is not in effect.

b. In the exceptional case of planned landings of military aircraft in Greenland

outside airports, the Government of the United States consults with and informs

the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule

Government of Greenland, in order to ensure due protection of the environment

and hunting areas in Greenland.

c. Consistent with the Defense Agreement, as amended herein, and the

Memorandum of Understanding of March 13, 1991, and without prejudice to other

relevant agreements and arrangements between the Parties, the Government of the

United States will consult with and inform the Government of the Kingdom of

Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland, prior to the

implementation of any significant changes to United States military operations or

facilities in Greenland.
Jos f Motzfeldt

F r the Home R Te Government of

Greenland

2. The Parties agree that to enhance local cooperation

a. The Home Rule Government of Greenland may appoint a representative with

whom the U.S. commanding officer at Thule Air Base will consult on local affairs

that affect the Home Rule Government of Greenland. The appointment of such a

representative does not affect the status of the Danish liaison officer in relation to

the U.S. commanding officer.

b. The Parties note and declare that they shall consult without undue delay

regarding any question which one of the Parties may raise concerning matters

pertaining to the U S military presence in Greenland and covered by the Defense

Agreement and this agreement. To the extent that such matters cannot be resolved

through local consultation, the Parties shall consult with each other either in the

Permanent Committee or through diplomatic channels, as appropriate.

Article 4: Entry Into Force and Amendment

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature, and shall remain in

force for the duration of the Defense Agreement. This Agreement may be

amended at any time by mutual agreement of the Parties.

Done at Igaliku this sixth day of August 2004 in duplicate, in the English and

Danish languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of the United States of

America

Colin L. Powell

For the Government of the Kingdom of

Denmark, including the Home Rule

Government of Greenland

Per Stig Moller

For the Government of Denmark
AFTALE MEI.I.EM AMERIKAS FORENEDE STATERS REGERING OG

KONGERIGET DANMARKS REGERING INKLUSIVE GRONLANDS

LANDSSTYRE OM IENDRING OG SUPPLERING AF

OVERENSKOMST AF 27. APRIL 1951 I HENHOLD TIL DEN

NORDATLANTISKE TRAKTAT MELLEM REGERINGERNE I

KONGERIGET DANMARK OG AMERIKAS FORENEDE STATER OM

FORSVARET AF GRONLAND (FORSVARSAFTALEN) MED SENERE

RELEVANTE TILLIEGSAFTALER RELATERET HERTIL

Parterne

- i betragtning af den udvikling, der er sket i Gronland siden Forsvarsaftalens

indgielse, herunder endringen af Gronlands status fra koloni til ligestillet del af

Kongeriget Danmark under grundloven og indforelsen af et vidtgiende gronlandsk

hjemmestyre;

- i betragtning af, at Kongeriget Danmarks regering altid konsulterer og samvirker

txt med Gronlands hjemmestyre i rigsanliggender, der er af saerlig betydning for

Gronland;

- i betragtning af de amerikanske militxre aktiviteter siden Forsvarsaftalens

indgielse, herunder indskrxnkningen af forsvarsornrader i Gronland;

- ud fra onsket om at lette og forbedre samarbejdet pa lokalt plan mellem de

amerikanske militare myndigheder og de danske og gronlandske myndigheder;

- i betragtning af den fxlles milsmtning om mellemfolkelig fred og fredelig

sameksistens og respekten for Gronlands vigtige bidrag heftil;

- i anerkendelse af Gronlands bidrag til de gensidige sikkerhedsinteresser og den

deraf folgende deltagelse i risici og ansvar og Parternes onske om et fortsat txt

samarbejde inden for NATO om varetagelse af den nordatlantiske sikkerhed;

KONSTA'1ERER og ENES OM folgende:

Artikel 1: Forsvarsomthder

1.Thule-basen er det eneste forsvarsomride i Gronland Bestemmelserne i

Forsvarsaftalens artikel II finder anvendelse ved oprettelse af nye forsvarsomrider.

2. Kongeriget Danmarks flag, Gronlands flag og de Forenede Staters flag vajer over

Thule-basen. For at styrke samarbejdet om varetagelsen af Thule-basens beskyitelse

og indre sikkerhed bistir danske og gronlandske myndigheder, efter anmodning og
som det skonnes passende, de amerikanske myndigheder i overensstemmelse med

eksisterende aftaler og ordninger.

Artikel 2: NATO-overenskomsten vedrorende status for styrker

1.Parterne konstaterer, at NATO-overenskomsten vedrorende status for styrker

(NATO SOFA) har fundet anvendelse i Gronland siden 1955.

2. Parterne er enige om, at bestemmelserne i Forsvarsaftalens artikel VII skal finde

anvendelse mellem Parterne som en supplerende aftale 61 NATO SOFA.

3.Parterne er enige om, at bestemmelserne i artikel VIII i Forsvarsaftalen er aflost

af de tilsvarende bestemmelser i NATO SOFA.

4. Parterne er enige om, at bestemmelserne i Forsvarsaftalens artikel IX skal finde

anvendelse mellem Parterne som en supplerende aftale til NATO SOFA.

5. Parterne er enige om, at den forste sgetning i Forsvarsaftalens artikel X bortfalder,

og at betegnelsen csidan NATO-overenskomst' i denne artikel henviser til NATO

SOFA.

Artikel 3: Lokalt samarbejde

1. Parterne beknefter at:

a.Bestemmelsen indeholdt i Forsvarsaftalens artikel VI, 2. punktum, 2. led

vedrorende kontakt mellem amerikansk personel og den lokale befolkning blev

ophxvet i 1986 og ikke er i kraft.

b. I ekstraordinaere tilfx1de af planlagte landinger af militxre luftfartojer i Gronland

uden for lufthavne vil Amerikas Forenede Staters regering konsultere og informere

Kongeriget Danmarks regering inklusive Gronlands landsstyre med henblik pa at

sikre passende beskyttelse af miljoet og jagtomrader i Gronland

c. I overensstemmelse med Forsvarsaftalen som amdret ved nztvxrende aftale og

Memorandum of Understanding af 13. marts 1991 og uden prejudice for andre

relevante aftaler og ordninger mellem Parterne vil Amerikas Forenede Staters

regering konsultere og informere Kongeriget Danmarks regering inklusive

Gronlands landsstyre forud for gennemforsel af enhver vzsentlig atndring af

Amerikas Forenede Staters militzre operationer eller faciliteter i Gronland

2. Med henblik pa at fremme lokalt samarbejde er Parterne enige om at:

a. Gronlands landsstyre kan udpege en representant, som den amerikanske

kommanderende officer pa Thule-basen vil rinfore sig med i lokale anliggender, der
Motzfeld

Gronlands landsstyre

berorer Gronlands landsstyre. Udpegelsen af en sidan reprxsentant berorer ikke

den danske forbindelsesofficers forhold i relation til den kommanderende

amerikanske officer.

b. Parterne konstaterer og erklxrer, at de uden unodig forsinkelse konsulterer

hinanden om ethvert sporgsmal, som en af parterne matte rejse om forhold

vedrorende den amerikanske militxre tilstedevxrelse i Gronland og omfattet af

Forsvarsaftalen og af nazrvxrende aftale. I det omfang sadanne sporgsmil ikke kan

afklares ved lokale konsultationer, konsulterer Parterne hinanden enten i det

Permanente Udvaig eller gennem diplomatiske kanaler, alt efter hvad der er

passende.

Artikel 4: Ikrafttrazden og azndringer

Denne aftale trader i kraft pa datoen for Parternes underskrift og skal forblive i

kraft i overensstemmelse med varigheden af Forsvarsaftalen. Denne aftale kan til

enhver tid xndres ved fxlles aftale mellem Parterne.

Udfxrdiget i Igaliku, den sjette august 2004, i to eksemplarer pa dansk og engelsk,

begge tekster af lige gyldighed.

For Amerikas Forenede Staters regering For Kongeriget Danmarks regering

inklusive Gronlands landsstyre

Co L. Powell Per Stig Moller

For Kongeriget Danmark
Joint Declaration

by

The Government of the United States of America

and

The Government of the Kingdom of Denmark,

including the Home Rule Government of Greenland,

on

Economic and Technical Cooperation

Meeting in Igaliku on August 6, 2004, Colin L. Powell, Secretary of State of the

United States of America, Per Stig Moller, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of

Denmark and Josef Motzfeldt, Deputy Premier of the Greenland Home Rule

Government

declared:

- The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the

Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland ("the

partners"), attach importance to the existing traditional ties between the people of

the United States of America and of Greenland. These ties are based on the

democratic and freedom-loving values we share, our common commitment to

international peace and security, as well as the cultural and geographical solidarity of

the peoples of the Arctic region;

- The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the

Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland, wish

to strengthen good neighbourly relations and friendship, as well as reinforce close

and lasting relations,

- To that end the partners have decided to strengthen cooperation between the

United States and Greenland.

Paragraph 1

1. To help realize mutual benefits for our citizens, broad economic and technical

cooperation shall be established between the United States of America and

Greenland, including cooperation on, inter alia, research, technology and energy

cooperation, environmental issues, education, development, tourism, air traffic

planning and trade.
Paragraph 2

1. To promote and coordinate the wide spectrum of activities foreseen within this

enhanced economic and technical cooperation a Joint Committee shall be

established to cooperate on all issues of mutual interest within this broad

framework.

2. The Joint Committee will:

constitute a forum for formal and informal exchange of information and

regular coordination and consultation on economic and technical issues of

mutual interest,

coordinate and monitor existing national programs, projects and other

activities with a view toward their full implementation,

identify and consider proposals for and agree, subject to funding approval,

new or enhanced joint cooperation projects and programs,

examine other questions arising within this framework.

3. Joint projects and programs will be implemented through joint contributions.

Financial support is envisaged to be one form of contribution but also technical and

expert assistance, know how, referral to appropriate loan and investment guarantee

institutions, in-kind contributions etc. will be considered as contributions to joint

projects, as appropriate. Contributions will be subject to the availability of funds in

accordance with national laws and procedures.

Paragraph 3

The Joint Committee, consisting of representatives of the United States

Government and representatives from the Danish Government, including the

Greenland Home Rule Government, shall meet at least annually. In addition the

committee will convene at other times as required in expert configurations

according to substance matter. The Chair will alternate between the partners

annually.

Paragraph . 4

In their endeavours to promote this enhanced economic and technical cooperation

the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the

Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland, will

use their best efforts to find timely common solutions to any issues that may arise

within the framework of this declaration.
Jos f Motzfel

F the Home Government

of Greenland

Issued this day, August 6 2004, in Igaliku

For the Government of the United States of

America

For the Government of the Kingdom of

Denmark, including the Greenland Home

Rule Government

Colin L. Powell Per Stig Moller

For the Government of Denmark
Joint Declaration

by

The Government of the United States of America

and

The Government of the Kingdom of Denmark,

including the Home Rule Government of Greenland,

on

Cooperation on the Environment in Greenland

Meeting in Igaliku on August 6 2004, Colin L. Powell, Secretary of State of the

United States of America, Per Stig Moller, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of

Denmark and Josef Motzfeldt, Deputy Premier of the Greenland Home Rule

Government

declared:

1. The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the

Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland ("the

partners"), recognize the importance of protecting and improving the environment

in Greenland. Acknowledging the vulnerability of the arctic environment, the

partners undertake to cooperate with regard to:

prevention and combating of pollution dangerous to human health,

prevention and combating of other pollution of air, water, ice, and earth,

protection of nature, its wild animals, plants, and their habitats,

protection of the landscape and areas of historical and scientific value.

2. The partners will address environmental issues cooperatively through appropriate

channels. The partners further intend to establish an Environmental Subcommittee

of the Permanent Committee established pursuant to the 1991 Memorandum of

Understanding. This Subcommittee will meet regularly to identify and address

environmental issues and recommend relevant countermeasures to risks that may be

posed by environmental contamination affecting the Thule Defense Area and the

areas adjacent to the Defense Area. The common goals are to protect the

environment and to prevent detrimental effects from any activities to the health and

safety of residents of Greenland, as well as of the military and civilian personnel

associated with the U.S. armed forces in Greenland

3. The partners recognize that U S armed forces in the Thule Defense Area respect

Greenland Home Rule environmental standards. This is demonstrated in the Final

Governing Standards applying at the Thule Defense Area, which the U.S.

Government updates periodically to reflect the more protective of the U.S. or

Greenlandic environmental standards. To assist in the process of updating the Final

Governing Standards, the partners will exchange information and consult as

appropriate regarding these standards.
f Motzfeldt

or the Home R Te Government of

Greenland

4. Representatives of the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the

Home Rule Government of Greenland, will have access, consistent with the military

mission, security and relevant safety considerations, to the Thule Defense Area to

acquaint themselves with environmental conditions there. This access will be

facilitated through the Thule base commander. With due regard for security

classifications and consistent with their respective applicable laws and regulations,

the partners will cooperate fully to exchange relevant and available information

pertaining to environmental matters.

5. In light of the principles underlying the environmental cooperation established

herein, the partners acknowledge that environmental considerations will be a natural

element of consultations related to any realignment of the Defense Area.

Issued this day, August 6 2004, in Igaliku

For the Government of the United States of

America

Colin L. Powell

For the Government of the Kingdom of

Denmark, including the Home Rule

Government of Greenland

Per Stig Moller

For the Government of Denmark