France and Canada opened consulates in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on Friday in a show of support for NATO ally Denmark, as US President Donald Trump renews his calls for Arctic territory.
Jean-Noël Poirier said Nouk’s appointment as French consul general was meant not as a “signal” to the US government, but rather as a message of friendship to Greenland and Denmark.
“This is also a question of unity. Just like when you need friends, you only have to turn around to see who is there. And we are there as French people… not against, but together,” Poirier told reporters in Nuuk.
France’s ambassador to Denmark, Christophe Parisot, added that the consulate is not just a symbol, but a “very concrete demonstration” of cooperation and alliance between the three European countries.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Canadian Governor-General Mary Simon arrived in Nuuk early Friday morning to officially open the country’s Consulate General with a flag-raising ceremony.
“Canada and Greenland share the world’s longest maritime border and have been connected across the Arctic for centuries,” Global Affairs Canada said in a post on X. “Canada’s new consulate general in Nuuk, Greenland will bring our countries even closer and strengthen Canada’s partnerships with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Canada first announced plans to open a Greenland consulate in December 2024 as part of its Arctic foreign policy, and a French consulate was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in June last year.
The opening of the diplomatic hub follows weeks of tense relations between the United States and Europe after President Trump reiterated his desire to annex Greenland to ensure U.S. security.
President Trump’s demands for a vast Arctic territory ruled by NATO member Denmark threatened to upend Western unity and tear apart the military alliance.
Amid President Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric, European countries are sending additional troops to the island to participate in military exercises with Denmark.
President Trump backtracked on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries supporting Greenland after agreeing to a “framework” for a future deal with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
CNN’s Issy Ronald and Kara Fox contributed reporting.
