The United States, Denmark, and Greenland have signed a new agreement to expand American military activities on the island of Greenland. The agreement is based on a 1951 defense partnership and comes as the US views Greenland as vital to its security. The agreement's signing follows a historical context that highlights the risks of US strategic decisions during the Cold War.
In the 1960s, the US Air Force launched Operation Chrome Dome, which involved keeping bombers armed with nuclear weapons on constant airborne alert, ready to strike the Soviet Union if necessary. As part of this operation, the US established Thule Air Base in northern Greenland, which served as a crucial location for launching missiles at the Soviet Union and monitoring its nuclear tests.
Thule Air Base was established in the 1950s and at its peak, it housed around 10,000 personnel. The base included bombers, reconnaissance planes, radar systems, and missile launch sites. Additionally, the US launched the highly classified Project Iceworm, which aimed to create a network of hidden missile launch sites under the ice in Greenland.
On January 21, 1968, a B-52 bomber carrying four nuclear bombs took off from New York and crashed on the ice near Thule Air Base after experiencing electrical problems. The accident, which released radioactive materials into the environment, was a major disaster that required a massive cleanup effort.
The US and Denmark worked together to clean up the radioactive contamination, with a team of scientists, nuclear specialists, and military personnel deployed to Greenland to remove the radioactive materials. The cleanup effort, known as Operation Cleansweep, was completed by mid-September 1968, with around 1700 Danes and 700 Americans involved.
Despite the efforts to clean up the contamination, some radioactive materials are believed to have remained in the environment. An estimated 93% of the radioactive materials were collected, but some residues are thought to have sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Attempts to locate a hydrogen bomb that was believed to have sunk with the wreckage were unsuccessful.
The new agreement between the US, Denmark, and Greenland expands American military activities on the island, which is seen as strategically important for US security. The agreement is based on a long-standing defense partnership and comes as the US seeks to strengthen its military presence in the region.
Key points
- The US and Denmark have agreed to expand American military activities in Greenland, building on a 1951 defense partnership.
- A 1968 B-52 bomber crash in Greenland released radioactive materials into the environment, requiring a massive cleanup effort.
- The cleanup effort, Operation Cleansweep, collected around 93% of the radioactive materials, but some residues are believed to have remained in the environment.
