USA, Greenland, and the Legacy of Waste: Time to Clean Up Before a New Welcome?

The United States' interest in Greenland is nothing new. During World War II and the Cold War, the Americans established several military installations on the island, including the strategic Thule Air Base and the more secretive Camp Century. However, their presence left behind a legacy of waste, pollution, and unresolved environmental issues. Now, as the U.S. shows renewed interest in Greenland, the question arises: Shouldn't they clean up after themselves first?

A Military and Geopolitical Pawn

Greenland has always been of strategic importance. During World War II, the U.S. established airfields to protect the North Atlantic, and after the war, they continued to use the island as a key part of their defense against the Soviet Union. The most well-known installation is Thule Air Base, built in 1951 and still in operation today. Thule became a vital radar station for early missile warning and a central part of U.S. defense during the Cold War.

But Thule was not the only part of the U.S. strategy in Greenland. In the late 1950s, they built an underground military base beneath the ice: Camp Century. Officially, it was a research station, but in secret, it was a test site for Project Iceworm, a plan to build a network of tunnels under the ice to house nuclear missiles aimed at the Soviet Union. The project proved unfeasible because the ice was too unstable, and it was abandoned in the late 1960s. The base was deserted, but all its waste remained.

An Environmental Disaster Beneath the Ice

Camp Century was built under several meters of thick ice, which at the time was considered a natural storage place for waste. However, scientists have warned that as climate change causes the ice to melt, the toxins the U.S. left behind could be released into Greenland’s environment.

It is estimated that the base contains 9,200 tons of building materials, 200,000 liters of diesel fuel, and unknown amounts of radioactive and chemical waste. Among other things, a nuclear reactor was used to power Camp Century, and its remnants were left in the ice. American authorities assumed the ice would encapsulate the waste forever, but as the ice melts rapidly, these pollutants risk reaching the ocean and the local ecosystem.

As the climate changes, Greenlandic and Danish authorities have begun demanding that the U.S. take responsibility for its abandoned base. But so far, Washington has remained silent on any cleanup plans.

A Renewed U.S. Interest in Greenland

In recent years, the U.S. has shown a renewed interest in Greenland. In 2019, Donald Trump even attempted to buy the island, which caused great controversy and was rejected by Denmark. However, the U.S. has continued to push for a greater presence, including opening a consulate in Nuuk and investing in infrastructure.

Greenland's strategic location makes it a crucial piece in the new Cold War between the U.S., China, and Russia. Additionally, Greenland has vast natural resources, including rare earth metals, which could be essential for future technology and the defense industry. In other words, there are strong economic and military reasons for the U.S. to want a stronger foothold on the island.

Before the U.S. Is Welcomed Back – Clean Up!

But here arises an important question: If the U.S. wants a larger role in Greenland again, shouldn't they first take responsibility for the waste they have already left behind? For Greenland, this is not just about geopolitics and economics but also about environmental justice. It is the Greenlandic people who risk suffering from pollution as the old military waste melts out of the ice.

If the U.S. wants to build new relationships with Greenland, the first step should be to acknowledge their past responsibilities and take action to clean up Camp Century and other polluted areas. Before any new bases are built, before any new investments are made – perhaps it would be reasonable to start by clearing out the old waste.

Sweeping problems under the rug no longer works, especially when the rug in this case is a melting ice sheet that may soon release decades of pollution into the Arctic environment. So before the U.S. tries to strengthen its ties with Greenland – maybe they should start by cleaning up after themselves?