Defence and security policy in Greenland – The role of Foreign and Security Policy Committee
International Law Breakfast Briefing with Hans Peder Kirkegaard, University of Greenland
Defence and security policy in Greenland – The role of Foreign and Security Policy Committee by Hans Peder Kirkegaard, PhD Candidate
The description of the role of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee, Nunanut Allanut Sillimaniarnermullu Ataatsimiitsitaliaq (NASA) can be found in one article in the law regarding Inatsisartut and Naalakkersuisut.
Chapter 3, Matters of Foreign and Security Policy
§ 21. The Foreign and Security Policy Committee in Inatsisartut is responsible for dealing with foreign and security policy matters and for putting forward the questions and comments that these matters give rise to. It is the responsibility of the Committee to keep abreast of developments in its field of expertise.
(2) The members of the Political and Security Policy Committee and others who may be present during the Committee's deliberations are obliged to keep secret information they become aware of in the Committee, to the extent that information has been provided in confidence by the Danish Government and the Government of Greenland, and to the extent that the Chair of the Committee otherwise decides. Each new member shall make a written declaration on their honor that they will comply with this provision.
Own translation from Danish text.
Members of the committee have expressed wishes about being more like the Danish Parliaments Udenrigspolitiske Nævn (The Foreign Policy Committee), which is regulated by the Danish Constitution. But do they need to be regulated constitutionally to have the same power?
Hans Peder Kirkegaard will present the regulation of NASA, and what the committee can and can’t do.
About the speaker
Hans Peder Kirkegaard is a Fulbright Scholar, and a PhD candidate at Ilisimatusarfik / University of Greenland and former research fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center. He has previously served as Special Advisor on defense and security policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Government of Greenland.
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About the series
The International Law Breakfast Briefings offer a regular opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and students with an interest in international law to meet, exchange views, and share research findings on current issues in the field.
Format: Each session features a presentation of approximately 20-25 minutes, followed by a discussion. Unless otherwise specified, both the presentation and discussion will be conducted in English. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Coffee and croissants will be available for all registered participants attending in person.
Researchers – including PhD students – and practitioners working in the field of international law who are interested in presenting at one of our upcoming sessions in the spring 2027 series are warmly invited to contact cornelius.wiesener@jur.ku.dk or astrid.kjeldgaard-pedersen@jur.ku.dk.