Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COPENHAGEN288
2008-05-16 05:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:  

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN CONFERENCE

Tags:  PGOV PREL SENV DA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCP #0288/01 1370534
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160534Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4251
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000288 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FROM AMBASSADOR CAIN
STATE ALSO FOR G, OES, EUR, AND EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV DA
SUBJECT: YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN CONFERENCE
IN GREENLAND

REF: COPENHAGEN 140

UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000288

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FROM AMBASSADOR CAIN
STATE ALSO FOR G, OES, EUR, AND EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV DA
SUBJECT: YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN CONFERENCE
IN GREENLAND

REF: COPENHAGEN 140


1. (SBU) John, I'm looking forward to seeing you in Greenland
at the end of the month. As OES prepares your substantive
participation in the conference, I wanted to continue our
conversation from Crawford and offer a few additional
thoughts on Greenland and its importance to U.S. interests.


2. (SBU) For many, the U.S. presence in Greenland is still
synonymous with Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland, our
northernmost military installation in the world. Thule has
long played a key role in defending North America against
ballistic missile attack. In 2004, the U.S., Denmark, and
Greenland signed the Igaliku agreements, clearing the way for
an upgrade to our early warning radar in Thule for use as
part of our national and allied missile defense architecture.


3. (SBU) We have upgraded our non-defense cooperation with
Greenland as well, to their benefit and ours. The Igaliku
agreements created a U.S.-Denmark-Greenland Joint Committee,
which focuses on strengthening cultural, educational,
scientific, technical, and commercial ties. The National
Science Foundation, NASA, and other USG agencies support
research in Greenland that advances our understanding of
global climate change. Those scientific missions are
supported by the New York Air National Guard's 109th Air
Wing, which operates the USG's only fleet of ski-equipped
C-130s and ferries scientists and equipment to research
stations across Greenland's inland ice sheet. The State
Department offers a growing number of exchange opportunities
to emerging Greenlandic leaders, and has dispatched an
English language fellow to some of Greenland's smallest and
most remote communities.


4. (SBU) Greenland has tremendous commercial potential for
U.S. companies. The U.S. aluminum giant Alcoa last year
signed an MOU with Greenland's Home Rule Government to
construct an aluminum smelter and associated hydropower
generation facility there. When completed, this investment
is expected to top USD 3 billion, making it the largest
single U.S. investment ever in the Kingdom of Denmark.
Chevron and ExxonMobil are part of an international
consortium exploring off Greenland's western coast, and the
U.S. Geological Survey is completing an assessment of

Greenland's potential oil and gas reserves. Its initial
findings suggest Greenland might have reserves to rival
Alaska's North Slope. To help the Greenlanders secure the
investments needed for such exploitation, I recently
introduced Home Rule Premier Enoksen and Minister of Finance
and Foreign Affairs Aleqa HAMMOND to some of our top U.S.
financial institutions in New York. U.S. tourists,
meanwhile, are increasingly drawn to Greenland's rugged
beauty, and cruise activity along Greenland's coasts is
expected to increase dramatically in the years ahead.


5. (SBU) So you can see why I am convinced that Greenland's
importance to U.S. interests will grow. Thanks to geography,
historical ties and the Igaliku agreements, the United States
has the inside track when competing for influence in
Greenland (even as the Chinese have now started making
regular visits). Embassy Copenhagen has proposed a seasonal
American Presence Post in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, that
would draw on our existing staff complement to put an
American officer on the ground in Greenland for about four
months each year. I also hope to increase high-level U.S.
interest in Greenland by continuing to attract visits like
yours and those of John McCain in 2006 and Nancy Pelosi last
year (along with two other large congressional delegations).


6. (SBU) The need for our engagement is underlined by
Greenland's steady march towards eventual independence. On
May 6 Greenland and Denmark concluded the outlines of a new
Self Rule Agreement for Greenland, widely viewed as the
penultimate step to independence. When the agreement enters
into force next year, Greenland will take on even more
autonomy, and will be granted additional foreign affairs
authorities, particularly in relation to its commercial ties
with other states. Independence may be many years off, and
will likely only happen if significant oil and gas deposits
pan out. However, we have a unique opportunity to position
ourselves now to shape Greenland's (and Denmark's) approach.


7. (SBU) As co-hosts for the conference, the Greenlanders
will highlight their own particular priorities in Ilulissat.
They are focused on the impact of climate change on
indigenous populations and ways to promote sustainable
economic growth in the Arctic. Greenland's views do not

always line up with Denmark's. Whereas the Danes regard
Greenland as a climate change bellwether (the metaphorical
canary in the coal mine),the Greenlanders are more
ambivalent, recognizing these changes also bring new
commercial possibilities for tourism, fishing and cruise
traffic.


8. (SBU) The Danish and Greenlandic relationship is
characterized and shaped by amity and anxiety, and you will
likely see both on display in Ilulissat. Fortunately, both
countries still maintain great goodwill toward the U.S.,
allowing us to intensify our engagement with both as they
further define their relationships with each other and the
wider world. John, have a safe trip, and I will see you soon
in Ilulissat. Best, Jim
CAIN