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Policymakers visit 'Top of the World'

Story ID 03-061
March 13, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Air Force Space Command News Service
By 1st Lt. Jeremy Eggers
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- Denmark's foreign minister and the Greenland Home Rule premier visited Thule March 10 as part of ongoing talks between Denmark and Greenland regarding a U.S. proposal to include Thule's radar in the U.S. missile defense initiative. "Missile defense has created concerns for the population of Greenland," said Greenland Premier Hans Enoksen. "But, we are willing to make it happen and make it a success. With continued cooperation, we can make this a win-win for all."

Per Stig Moeller, Danish foreign minister, accompanied the premier on a tour of base facilities before traveling to Nuuk, Greenland's capital, to continue discussions with Greenland Home Rule regarding Thule's role in missile defense.

The Danish parliament is expected to vote on the missile defense proposal in May.

The United States is requesting approval to use the radar at the 12th Space Warning Squadron's ballistic missile early warning system, known as BMEWS, as part of the sensor network for the missile defense initiative. The United Kingdom has already approved the use of the BMEWS site at RAF Flylingdales in northern England.

Greenland won partial home rule in 1979, but Denmark manages the state's foreign, defense, and security policy. The missile defense initiative has provided an avenue for Enoksen to argue for changes to the 1951 Defense Agreement, which established Thule Air Base. As a result, the Danish government is working with Greenland to identify and possibly propose updates to the agreement in light of developments in the past 50 years.

A change to the 1951 Defense Agreement went into effect Feb. 20, when the Dundas Peninsula, located near the base, was returned to Greenland.

"We are a good neighbor and look forward to further developing our relationship with the surrounding communities," said Col. Lou Christensen, 821st Air Base Group commander.

Thule Air Base's day-to-day mission is to provide real-time early warning data to U.S. Strategic Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, as well as to detect, track and identify orbiting satellites. Thule is also home to Detachment 3, 22nd Space Operations Squadron, part of the 50th Space Wing's Air Force Satellite Control Network. The AFSCN is key to command and control for Department of Defense satellites.

"Thule Air Base is good for Greenland," said Christensen. "From an annual economic impact greater than $16 million (U.S. dollars), educating and training Greenlanders, to developing quality of life initiatives for the surrounding communities-I'm proud of the work 'Team Thule' does here."