newstodate.aero
Sep 18, 2018 (newstodate): While the political parties in Greenland are deeply divided over the country's new airports infrastructure, foreign interest in the issue is heating up..
Only earlier this month, the Danish prime minister signed an agreement with Greenland's head of government promising significant Danish investments in the airport projects which will also secure a direct Danish co-ownership in the new facilities.
This was seen as an effort to bar against a future choice of Chinese investors, which was seen as a potential future security risk.
Now the US Ministry of Defense has also stepped in with a bid to take part in the coming projects.
-The US Department of Defense intends to pursue potential strategic investments vigorously, including investments that may serve dual military and civilian purposes, the US message reads.
-For example, the US Dept of Defense intends to analyze and, where appropriate, strategically invest in projects related to the airport infrastructure in Greenland, including projects that may have dual military and civilian benefits.
As of today, the final decision on the implementation of the coming airport infrastructure in Greenland is again in the balance pending a solution to Greenland's political upheaval.
So far, plans are that the runway at the capital airport at Nuuk will be extended to 1,800m from today's 950m, Ilulissat Airport will also have its runway extended to 1,800m from today's 845m, and a new airport will be constructed at Qaqortoq with a 1,200m runway.
This leaves the future of the country's only existing transatlantic airport at Kangerlussuaq undecided, which may also attract not least US interest.
Only earlier this month, the Danish prime minister signed an agreement with Greenland's head of government promising significant Danish investments in the airport projects which will also secure a direct Danish co-ownership in the new facilities.
This was seen as an effort to bar against a future choice of Chinese investors, which was seen as a potential future security risk.
Now the US Ministry of Defense has also stepped in with a bid to take part in the coming projects.
-The US Department of Defense intends to pursue potential strategic investments vigorously, including investments that may serve dual military and civilian purposes, the US message reads.
-For example, the US Dept of Defense intends to analyze and, where appropriate, strategically invest in projects related to the airport infrastructure in Greenland, including projects that may have dual military and civilian benefits.
As of today, the final decision on the implementation of the coming airport infrastructure in Greenland is again in the balance pending a solution to Greenland's political upheaval.
So far, plans are that the runway at the capital airport at Nuuk will be extended to 1,800m from today's 950m, Ilulissat Airport will also have its runway extended to 1,800m from today's 845m, and a new airport will be constructed at Qaqortoq with a 1,200m runway.
This leaves the future of the country's only existing transatlantic airport at Kangerlussuaq undecided, which may also attract not least US interest.