December 20, 2024, 1:30 PM CET | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Press Release
Over the past year, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark have worked closely together to prepare the Kingdom of Denmark’s upcoming two-year Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, running from May 2025 to May 2027.
Together, the three parts of the Kingdom have identified priority areas and established a shared model for managing the Chairmanship. It has been decided that Greenland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Faroe Islands’ Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs will form a political steering group for the Kingdom’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
It has long been agreed that Greenland will play a special role in leading the Chairmanship. This special role includes Greenland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt, assuming political leadership of the Arctic Council on behalf of the Kingdom of Denmark at the transfer meeting in Tromsø, Norway, on May 12, 2025. Additionally, Greenland will nominate a candidate for Arctic Ambassador, who will be appointed by the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs upon approval by the Faroe Islands and Denmark.
The new Arctic Ambassador will serve as Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials (SAO) group during the Kingdom’s Chairmanship. The Ambassador will have offices in both Greenland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Nuuk and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen. Furthermore, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark will participate in the permanent Chairmanship group, coordinating the Kingdom’s positions and policies. During the Chairmanship, the Faroe Islands will act as Deputy Senior Arctic Official Chair, while Denmark will continue its role as National Senior Arctic Official.
“It is crucial that we ensure continued, effective international cooperation in the Arctic. This is particularly important for the approximately four million people living in the region, who face the impacts of climate change and increasing international interest in the Arctic. I am therefore very pleased that we now have a clear division of roles for our Arctic Council Chairmanship – the most important platform for Arctic cooperation. I would like to thank all parties involved for achieving this great result for Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark. I also look forward to appointing a Greenlandic Arctic Ambassador who, in close collaboration with the foreign services of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark, will represent the entire Kingdom’s interests in the Arctic Council,” says Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
“I am pleased that Greenland will now assume a central role during the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. As the Arctic nation within the Kingdom, it is vital that this is reflected in the final role distribution agreed upon by our three countries. Arctic cooperation should be led by people from the Arctic, who live the realities shaped by climate change and an unstable world. The Arctic Council will benefit from Greenland taking on a leading role during the Kingdom’s Chairmanship. The Government of Greenland’s foreign, security, and defense policy strategy has been a cornerstone in reaching agreement with the Kingdom’s countries, with whom we have had strong cooperation during political discussions. I would like to extend my gratitude for this good cooperation and strong joint effort,” says Vivian Motzfeldt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greenland.
“Assuming the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council comes at a time of significant challenges. The Arctic Council is a key platform for dialogue and cooperation between Arctic nations, Indigenous Peoples, and research communities. For the Faroe Islands, it has been essential that our position as a maritime nation in the Arctic is clearly reflected in the Chairmanship. Based on the Faroese Arctic policy, we will actively contribute to the Arctic Council’s work and strengthen efforts to maintain a rule-based cooperation and a resilient region where democratic sustainability is a core value,” says Høgni Hoydal, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Faroe Islands.
Facts about the Arctic Council
The Arctic Council consists of eight Arctic states and six organizations (Permanent Participants) representing Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic.
The eight Arctic states are Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.
The Arctic Council is an international forum addressing a wide range of key issues in the Arctic. Its work centers on the living conditions of Arctic residents, particularly Indigenous Peoples, in a rapidly changing world. These changes are significantly influenced by dramatic shifts in climate and environment. Temperatures in the Arctic continue to rise, now up to four times faster than the global annual average. The Council’s work on mapping developments in climate, marine environments, biodiversity, disaster response, and more plays a vital role in various international collaborations.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has posed challenges for the Arctic Council. Currently, formal meetings at diplomatic (SAO) and political (Ministerial) levels are suspended. However, the Council’s technical working groups continue to meet virtually and carry out their important work.
Facts about the Kingdom’s Role Distribution in the Arctic Council
During the Kingdom’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the Arctic Ambassador will act as Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials (SAO) group and, at the administrative level, ensure the Arctic Council’s continued function as a well-managed organization, where decisions are made by consensus among the eight member states in full consultation with the Permanent Participants.
For further information, contact:
- Greenland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs: inek@nanoq.gl or +299 587331
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Faroe Islands: press@mfa.fo or +298 556075
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark: pressevagten@um.dk or +45 61 97 92 47 (no SMS)”
