In a report released last week, the Danish government indicated that it very likely will allow the early warning radar in Thule, Greenland, to be updated and incorporated into the U.S.' proposed ground-based midcourse (GMD) missile defense program. The United States formally submitted its request to be permitted to update the Thule radar in December 2002. The British government has already acquiesced to a similar request regarding its Fylingdales radar facility. Now, despite opposition from Greenlandic activists, it looks like Copenhagen will do the same. The report justified this move by stating, "It could be in Denmark's own political interest to respond positively to Washington's request, and it is not excluded that we in the long term might also want to be protected by a missile defense." The formal decision is expected shortly after the Danish parliament debates the issue on April 23.
Agence France-Presse, March 4, 2003

In "European Governments' Official Positions on Missile Defence," BASIC paper no. 42, analysts from various European countries explain their governments' positions on missile defense. Contributors from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, and Romania give their homelands' perspectives and concerns. To sum, "for now, it would seem that the consensus is to wait and see what happens next and to be well placed to secure any potential benefits which may come their way. Geopolitics, economics and national elections may yet undermine this consensus and turn defense ministries and public opinion against missile defense, as happened with the Strategic Defense Initiative in the 1980s." To read the paper in its entirety, go to http://www.basicint.org/pubs/Papers/BP42.htm

The British government has formally agreed to allow the radar facilities at Fylingsdale to be upgraded and incorporated into the fledgling U.S. missile defense system. Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon alerted the U.K. Parliament on Jan. 31 that he would be "conveying the government's agreement to the U.S. request." Critics have opposed this move, fearing that it may lead to Fylingsdale becoming a target or the United Kingdom becoming permanently involved in missile defense programs of the United States. Hoon tried to ally that latter concern by stating that the upgrade does not necessarily commit his government to further participation, but it does "keep open the prospect of acquiring missile defense capabilities for the United Kingdom."
BBC Online, Feb. 5, 2003

The British Parliament's Select Committee on Defense released a report on Jan. 28, 2003, recommending that the government agree to the U.S. request to upgrade the early warning radar in Fylingdales. The radar would be part of the proposed missile defense system that the Bush administration wishes to begin deploying in 2004. The Select Committee on Defense played down concerns that the upgrade would result in additional risk to area residents or lead to further missile defense deployment in Fylingdales. However, the committee was furious about the lack of consultation from the British Ministry of Defense, charging the latter with having "shown no respect for either the views of those affected locally by the discussion or for the arguments of those opposed to the upgrade in principle." The committee requested more information on the timeline of the upgrade, and asked for specifics about how it would fit into the missile defense system and the possibility of increased radiation emissions. For the full report, go to: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmdfence/290-i/29002.htm

British Defense Minister Geoff Hoon told members of the U.K. Parliament on Jan. 15 that his "preliminary conclusion" was that they should cooperate with the United States on missile defense. Specifically, he believes that his government should accede to the U.S. request to incorporate the early warning radar at Fylingdales into the U.S. missile defense system. This was one of two requests to foreign governments made when the Bush administration announced its goal of an initial deployment of a missile defense system by 2004 (in the other case, Denmark has yet to officially respond to the U.S. request to allow the radar in Thule to become a part of the missile defense system). Hoon stated that his government's cooperation would provide "an invaluable extra insurance against the development of a still uncertain but potentially catastrophic threat." He has been reviled by British politicians, both for his "slavish devotion" to the United States and for his "astonishing" lack of consultation with Parliament before making this decision.
The Guardian (U.K.), Jan. 16, 2003

The U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) released a public discussion paper this week in which it seems fairly amenable to participating in a missile defense system if asked by the United States. British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon did state that London would agree to cooperate "only if it were satisfied that the overall security of the United Kingdom and the alliance would ultimately be enhanced." However, the paper's details of what the United Kingdom perceives as the missile threat, discussion of possible economic and military benefits cooperation would bring, and attempts to assuage fears that Britain would become a target if it participated in missile defense lead to the conclusion that cooperation is a distinct possibility. This discussion may become pertinent very quickly if the United States, as expected, asks to upgrade its early warning radar at its facility at Fylingdales, England, so it may become a part of the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense system. The report can be found at: http://www.mod.uk/linked_files/issues/missiledefence/missiledef.pdf

The surprisingly strong showing of two pro-independence groups in Greenland's recent parliamentary elections may have unexpected consequences for U.S. missile defense plans. Greenland, formerly a colony of Denmark, received Home Rule in 1979 but still must yield to Copenhagen in foreign and security matters. Of late, Greenland has been pushing for more power in its external affairs and even for independence, which 80 percent of the population is said to support. Controversy over the U.S. missile defense radar located in Thule may prove to be the island's ticket to complete sovereignty, argues CDI Research Associate Victoria Samson in "Small election: Big consequences? How Greenland may block the United States from fully deploying its missile defense program." For the complete text, go to: http://www.cdi.org/missile-defense/greenland.cfm.

Czech Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik said during a recent visit to the United States that his country would be interested in becoming involved with the U.S. missile defense program. He also dangled the possibility of deploying missile defense systems on Czech territory. The Czech Republic is a fairly recent member of the NATO and has been cooperating with the United States on the war in Afghanistan.
Aerospace Daily, Sept. 19, 2002