Politiken: Probe finds toxic legacy at former US military bases in Greenland

An investigation by Danish newspaper Politiken has found that former U.S. military installations across Greenland contain significant amounts of hazardous waste, raising concerns about long-term environmental risks in the Arctic.

According to Politiken, American military personnel left behind large quantities of environmentally harmful materials when they withdrew from most of their Greenland bases following the end of the Cold War.

The newspaper's investigation examined at least 36 former U.S. military bases and facilities on the island. The abandoned sites contain millions of liters of low-level radioactive water, as well as ageing infrastructure including pipes, cables, vehicle batteries, and a large number of diesel fuel barrels that have deteriorated over time.

The investigation says many of the barrels have rusted through, increasing the risk of contaminants leaking into the surrounding environment.

In addition to radioactive water, the abandoned materials reportedly contain heavy metals and other hazardous substances that could threaten Greenland's fragile marine ecosystems.

The findings highlight concerns over the long-term environmental legacy of military activities in the Arctic, where changing climate conditions and melting ice could increase the exposure and spread of contaminants.

The United States maintained numerous military installations across Greenland during the Cold War because of the island's strategic location between North America and Europe. Most of those facilities were closed after geopolitical tensions eased in the early 1990s.

Today, only one active U.S. military base remains on the island.

By Sabina Mammadli