On 15 June, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland, the strategic Arctic island coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump, carrying a “message of solidarity and friendship” from France and the European Union.
Macron reiterated his criticism of Trump’s intention to take control of the territory.
“I don’t think that’s something that should be done between allies,” he said as he was greeted at Nuuk airport by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
“It’s important to show that Denmark and Europe are committed to this territory, which has very high strategic importance and whose territorial integrity must be respected,” Macron said. He was making a stop on his way to a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations in Canada, which will also be attended by Trump.
Macron, who is visiting Greenland for the first time, said, “It means a lot to me to convey a message of friendship and solidarity from France and the European Union to help this territory face its various challenges: economic development, education, as well as the consequences of climate change.”
In a speech last week at the UN Ocean Conference, Macron also mentioned Greenland and the deep seas, saying they are not “up for grabs” in remarks that appeared largely directed at Trump.
Macron's role in Europe
In recent months, Macron has sought to reinvigorate France’s role as the diplomatic and economic heavyweight of the 27-nation European Union.
The French president has positioned himself as a leader in Europe amid Trump’s threats to withdraw support from Ukraine as it fights against Russia’s invasion. Macron hosted a summit in Paris with other European heads of state to discuss Kyiv, as well as security issues across the continent.
Macron hosts summit on Ukraine, pledges €2bn in military aid to Kyiv
Sunday’s visit was also be an occasion to discuss how to further enhance relations between the EU and Greenland on matters such as economic development, the low-carbon energy transition, and critical minerals. The leaders will also exchange views on efforts to curb global warming, according to Macron’s office.
Later on Sunday, Macron, Frederiksen, and Nielsen held a meeting on a Danish helicopter carrier, underlining France’s concerns over security issues in the region.
Trump and Greenland
Last week, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary, but refused to answer repeated questions during a heated congressional hearing on Thursday about his use of Signal chats to discuss military operations.
Hegseth’s comments were the latest controversial remarks made by a member of the Trump administration about the Arctic island. The president himself has said he will not rule out military force to take over Greenland, which he considers vital to American security in the high north.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that several high-ranking officials under the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had instructed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenland’s independence movement and attitudes towards US resource extraction there.
Nielsen said in April that US statements about the island have been disrespectful and that Greenland “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.”
(With newswires)
