COPENHAGEN - The United States should consult with its NATO allies about a proposed plan to upgrade a radar on an American Air Force base on Greenland as part of a national missile defense system, Greenland's premier said Thursday.

``NATO partners also have something to say about this,'' Premier Jonathan Motzfeldt said about the so-called U.S. National Missile Defense. ``And not everyone is in a hallelujah mood about it.''

An early warning radar at the U.S. air base in Thule, northern Greenland, would have to be upgraded if Washington wants to deploy the proposed missile shield by 2005. Deployment theoretically would allow the United States to destroy incoming warheads.

Motzfeldt reiterated that Greenland opposes the proposed missile defense system if it violates the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, and if Russia doesn't accept it.

``You wouldn't find any human being in Greenland who would accept it,'' Motzfeldt told reporters in Copenhagen.

The world's largest island is a semiautonomous Danish territory with no say when it comes to foreign policy; its defense matters are handled by NATO-member Denmark.

The Danish government has declined to comment on the issue except to note that existing international arms control treaties must be honored. Denmark's foreign minister, Mogens Lykketoft, said earlier this week he would not comment on it before there was an official move from the President-elect George W. Bush's administration.

U.S. President Bill Clinton last summer deferred a decision on deployment to his successor.

For years, Greenland has been seeking to gain more input in foreign policy matters and Motzfeldt said he hoped to be invited to the negotiation table when Washington approaches Copenhagen about the issue.

Next month, Motzfeldt will visit Washington to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, but he said the missile shield was not on the agenda of that annual meeting of U.S. lawmakers, clergy and lay people.

In 1951, Denmark and the United States signed a defense agreement to set up four, rent-free U.S. Air Force bases on Greenland. All except Thule have since been shut down.