US Seeks Golden Shield in Greenland to Counter Russian ICBMs
In an effort to bolster national security, the United States is considering deploying parts of its proposed Golden Dome missile shield on the remote and strategic Danish territory of Greenland. The move, which has garnered significant attention, aims to strengthen the country's defenses against potential intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) fired by Russia or China.
Greenland's unique geography and location within the Arctic Circle make it an ideal location for early detection of incoming ICBMs, experts argue. With nearly four times the size of Texas, the island would likely be in the direct path of any missile launched from Russia or China. Moreover, its position over the Arctic Circle means that a flight path over Greenland would be the shortest distance between Moscow and Washington D.C.
"This is crucial technologically," says Justina Budginaite-Froehly, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. "To detect early that an ICBM is being fired from Russia, Greenland is the perfect spot for that." With its strategic location, Greenland can serve as an early warning system, providing the US with valuable time to respond and intercept incoming missiles.
The Golden Dome, a proposed multi-layered missile defense system, has been touted by President Trump as capable of taking out hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, and advanced cruise missiles. However, experts warn that the US currently lacks a system similar to Israel's "Iron Dome" to fend off incoming ICBMs.
Peter Doran, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, emphasizes that Greenland is critical to the US strategy to defend against incoming nuclear missiles. Unlike positioning interceptors on American homeland soil, which would provide a smaller margin of error, placing them in Greenland would offer a greater cushion against detection and interception.
"By having our Golden Dome positioned in Greenland, every future US president will have a greater ability to defend the homeland from a nightmare scenario," Doran argues.
In an effort to bolster national security, the United States is considering deploying parts of its proposed Golden Dome missile shield on the remote and strategic Danish territory of Greenland. The move, which has garnered significant attention, aims to strengthen the country's defenses against potential intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) fired by Russia or China.
Greenland's unique geography and location within the Arctic Circle make it an ideal location for early detection of incoming ICBMs, experts argue. With nearly four times the size of Texas, the island would likely be in the direct path of any missile launched from Russia or China. Moreover, its position over the Arctic Circle means that a flight path over Greenland would be the shortest distance between Moscow and Washington D.C.
"This is crucial technologically," says Justina Budginaite-Froehly, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. "To detect early that an ICBM is being fired from Russia, Greenland is the perfect spot for that." With its strategic location, Greenland can serve as an early warning system, providing the US with valuable time to respond and intercept incoming missiles.
The Golden Dome, a proposed multi-layered missile defense system, has been touted by President Trump as capable of taking out hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, and advanced cruise missiles. However, experts warn that the US currently lacks a system similar to Israel's "Iron Dome" to fend off incoming ICBMs.
Peter Doran, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, emphasizes that Greenland is critical to the US strategy to defend against incoming nuclear missiles. Unlike positioning interceptors on American homeland soil, which would provide a smaller margin of error, placing them in Greenland would offer a greater cushion against detection and interception.
"By having our Golden Dome positioned in Greenland, every future US president will have a greater ability to defend the homeland from a nightmare scenario," Doran argues.