The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Greenland on the occasion of the U.S. Greenland Joint Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. October 21-22, 2024:
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Igaliku Joint Declaration creating the Joint Committee, the Governments of the United States and Greenland met in Washington, D.C. on October 21-22, 2024, with the participation of the Government of Denmark, to strengthen our partnership and continue building on our shared goals across key areas of cooperation. Committee discussions focused on building connectivity between our two peoples, economies, and governments, and reaffirmed the importance of government-to-government and people-to-people collaboration in trade, energy, education, and research. A wide range of U.S. Government departments and agencies hosted the Greenlandic delegation, underscoring the whole-of-government approach to deepening and broadening our partnership on topics including: tourism development; health care; co-creation of scientific research, education and cultural exchange; and safe, secure and sustainable investment.
We reviewed our progress and set new priorities for 2025 across the following areas, ensuring our cooperation continues to benefit both our peoples.
We remain committed to fostering economic growth and sustainable development in Greenland. Both governments are working to increase investment and strengthen trade ties, while supporting local and private sector partners to create more opportunities in key sectors such as tourism. We share a goal to build lasting networks to support increased bilateral trade, a thriving Greenlandic entrepreneurial ecosystem, and a Greenland-led tourism industry, inclusive of indigenous rights.
Our collaboration on Greenland’s energy and mineral resource sectors continues to grow, especially in supporting clean energy deployment and responsible critical mineral development. Together, we are exploring innovative ways to integrate renewable energy into Greenland’s energy supply and to enhance Greenland’s role in global clean energy supply chains.
Education and Cultural Exchange
Our shared focus on education and culture is central to Greenland’s priority to build a sustainable, diversified economy. The committee furthered efforts to match U.S. educational institutions with Greenlandic vocational and higher education institutions, building on existing exchange programs while pursuing new opportunities.
Environmental and Scientific Cooperation
We are deepening our environmental and scientific partnerships and will explore opportunities of collaboration in health care. Together, we will continue to push forward co-created, innovative projects that strengthen our mutual understanding of the Arctic region, which is key to addressing the global climate crisis, while supporting Greenland’s efforts to strengthen its scientific community and organize the framework for scientific activities in Greenland.
