Abstract
This project explores the evolving strategic partnership between Greenland and Denmark
within the Kingdom of Denmark, focusing on the implementation of the Arctic Basic Training
initiative from the Arctic Capability Package. Using a constructivist approach, the analysis
examines how internal tensions affects cohesion, within the Kingdom of Denmark in context of
intensified great power competition in the Arctic. The analysis delves into discourses
surrounding Greenland’s increasing demands for autonomy and Denmark’s efforts to maintain
strategic balance. The findings reveal a transformation in the partnership from 2021 to 2024.
Initially characterized by Danish dominance and limited Greenlandic involvement in defense
and security decisions, the relationship shifted following Greenland’s rejection of the February
2021 agreement. This resistance, framed within a postcolonial discourse, led to renegotiations
and the May 2022 agreement, granting Greenland a more active role in international relations.
The initiative emerged as a catalyst for fostering dialogue and redefining relations, balancing
Greenland’s autonomy ambitions with Denmark’s role as the primary security actor. Interviews
highlighted the program’s success in challenging preconceptions about Greenlandic youth
engagement in defense, reshaping Greenland’s self-perception regarding sovereignty and
development
The project concludes that the partnership is transitioning toward a more balanced model,
though economic dependence and Denmark’s control over security remain stabilizing factors.
The study emphasizes how norms, identities, and discourses shape internal dynamics in the
Kingdom of Denmark and its position in global politics