On November 14, 2025, in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Greenland Government (Naalakkersuisut) to jointly implement the activities of the Peace Center Eqqissinermut Suliniarfik. The memorandum was signed by SPF President Atsushi Sunami and Greenland Minister of Foreign Affairs and Research Vivian Motzfeldt.
Greenland Minister of Foreign Affairs and Research Vivian Motzfeldt (left) and SPF President Atsushi Sunami sign a Memorandum of Cooperation
The Peace Center was established by the government of Greenland and aims to promote peace, conflict resolution, and sustainable development in the Arctic and other regions. The Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Greenland Government will promote cooperation in the fields of research, education, dialogue, and exchange, using the Peace Center as a base.
Details of Cooperation:
1. Secure international education, research, and awareness-raising activities concerning Indigenous Peoples’ inclusion and participation, peace, climate change, and sustainable development in the Arctic
2. Facilitate academic and policy dialogue between Japan, Greenland, and other relevant stakeholders
3. Support personnel development through fellowship programs, training, and exchange initiatives
Background:
The Ocean Policy Research Foundation (Ship & Ocean Foundation), the predecessor of SPF’s Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), has been addressing Arctic issues since the 1990s. In the Arctic, where geopolitical tensions are rising and environmental changes are progressing, it is essential to continue research cooperation, including dialogue between relevant countries and the sharing of scientific data.
SPF, as a private research institute, has contributed to the promotion of Arctic policy in Japan through investigative research, including on the Arctic Sea Route. This cooperation is the realization of the Peace Center concept proposed by the Greenland Government, which was initiated following discussions during former Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa's visit to Greenland and her meeting with government officials. This collaboration marks an important step forward based on past discussions.
Comment from SPF President Atsushi Sunami:
Greenland is a geopolitically important region in the Arctic, which is severely impacted by climate change. Japan, as an observer state to the Arctic Council, has actively contributed to Arctic scientific research for many years. The cooperation established through this memorandum is an important step toward coexistence with the people living in the region while respecting the wisdom of indigenous peoples, fostering the next generation of leaders, and promoting peacebuilding and sustainable development. Through the work of the Peace Center, we will support the people of Greenland in communicating their ideas to the world and deepening their dialogue with the international community. It is highly significant that the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a private foundation with a wealth of experience in Arctic research and deep trust from the local community, is responding to Greenland's request for cooperation. I am confident that this initiative will become a cooperative relationship that draws global attention.
