Greenland airport facing closure may be used by NATO

Narsarsuaq airport in southern Greenland, which had been due to close earlier this year, will remain open for another year under an agreement between Greenland’s government and Denmark’s Defence Ministry.

The Defence Ministry will provide up to 45 million kroner to Greenland’s self-rule government. The extension is intended to give Denmark, Greenland and their allies time to assess the long-term needs of the Danish military, other allied forces and NATO at the airport.

Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus welcomed the agreement. Greenland’s foreign minister, Múte B. Egede, said he hoped the Danish parliament’s Finance Committee would support the request for the temporary funding. The committee is scheduled to consider the funding authorization on Sept. 10, 2026.

Officials are examining whether Narsarsuaq could be used permanently by Denmark’s armed forces or other NATO allies. The airport will also host an international exercise in the coming weeks involving about 400 soldiers from 10 NATO countries.

Bruus and Egede are due to visit Narsarsuaq and Qassiarsuk on Sept. 9 to observe the exercise and hold public meetings in the two towns.

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We hope that the Finance Committee of the Folketing will look favorably on the request for funds to temporarily keep Narsarsuaq Airport open.