Leaders and ministers from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland have gathered in Aalborg for a meeting focused on the political situation within the Kingdom, as well as foreign affairs, security, and defense policies. A central topic of discussion is the development of an Arctic strategy and the appointment of an Arctic ambassador.

Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, expects efforts to find a solution regarding this issue, especially since a resolution was promised last year. “It is becoming increasingly embarrassing if nothing happens now,” he stated. The position of Arctic ambassador was assigned to Tobias Elling Rehfeld, a former ambassador to South Africa, on September 1, 2023. However, this appointment has faced criticism from Greenland, as they preferred a Greenlandic representative for the role.

The point of contention lies in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Udenrigsministeriet), which claims that only their officials are eligible to hold such positions. In contrast, Greenland argues that Denmark would not have any significant connection to the Arctic without Greenland’s involvement. With Denmark set to take over the presidency of the Arctic Council next year, the need for a resolution is urgent to ensure Greenland’s participation in the presidency under harmonious conditions.

Gad suggests a potential compromise solution involving a coordinator positioned in Nuuk, who would still report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition to the ambassador appointment, other agenda items include the fishing agreement between the Faroe Islands and Russia, and the ongoing inquiry into the “spiral case” (spiralsagen). This case involves testimonies from several Greenlandic women who reported receiving contraceptive devices without consent in the 1960s, and it is currently under independent investigation, which is also expected to be discussed at the meeting.