Greenland's Melting Secret: Cold War Nuclear Base Threatens Arctic

Greenland's Cold War Secret: The Legacy of Project Iceworm June 2nd, 2025 - A recently resurfaced video highlights a little-known chapter in US-Greenland relations: Project Iceworm, a top-secret Cold War initiative. This project, established in 1959, involved the construction of Camp Century, an army base built under the Greenland ice sheet. The purpose was to house 600 medium-range ballistic nuclear missiles, a clandestine operation undertaken to outmaneuver the Soviets. The secrecy was necessary because of Denmark's 1957 nuclear-free policy, which prohibited nuclear weapons on its territories. "Believe it or not, this US interest in the Arctic country didn't start with Trump; it predates him by decades," explains therecount, the video's creator. Camp Century's construction was a complex undertaking, as seen in archival footage in the video. The base included a sophisticated rail system for moving the missiles between launch sites. However, the project was short-lived. By 1967, Camp Century was abandoned. The hasty departure left behind a significant environmental hazard: 53,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 63,000 gallons of wastewater, and radioactive coolant from the nuclear generator. Scientists now warn that climate change is causing the ice to melt, threatening the release of these toxins into the ocean. This raises significant concerns about the long-term environmental impact of this Cold War secret. The revelation of Project Iceworm serves as a stark reminder of the lasting consequences of Cold War actions and the urgent need to address the environmental challenges posed by climate change.