Greenland’s flag in Nuuk. Source: GRIDA, Peter Prokosch, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Last week, Canada and France simultaneously opened consulates in Greenland, a symbolic gesture and counter-action in the unfolding Arctic drama in which one protagonist attempts to hijack an island geographically belonging to the American continent, while a small European state, having inflicted much pain on its inhabitants through years of harsh colonial rule, attempts to maintain its modus vivendi with the support of timid allies.
This story is full of hidden meanings and implications that will unfold over time, but on the surface the public already sees elements of comedy: the personnel of the two consulates will likely exceed the combined number of Canadian (16) and French (9) citizens permanently residing on the island, whose interests these consulates will represent. These citizens will likely be the most intensively served by consular services in the world, although, to be fair, their rights have never been violated before.
The planting of two new national flags in Greenland’s icy soil will likely remain a symbolic gesture given the vast gap between the participants in this comedic drama, particularly in military strength. It will likely not lead to any significant European political and economic involvement in Greenlandic affairs, which could be hampered both by the restored United States Second Fleet and by the peculiarities of Greenland’s domestic legislation, which would hinder outsiders seeking to exploit the island’s natural resources.
So let us listen to the opinions of those directly involved in this comedic drama, expressed both during the pompous consulate opening ceremonies and in the media coverage of this event in Greenland, Canada, and France.
Stripped of the personal feelings of the politicians speaking at the opening ceremony of the Canadian consulate, the essence of their speeches was simple: the Inuit of Canada and Greenland are one people, they will not give up their land to strangers, and they will try to continue to live happily under the rule of the descendants of their colonizers.
To enhance the effect of the consulate opening ceremony, the Canadians brought a coastal defense icebreaker to the ceremony, which any sane military expert would consider a small fishing boat compared to the US Second Fleet operating in the North Atlantic. If this was a show of military force, it clearly failed to impress the US political and military establishment.
On the other hand, the Canadian delegation included more than 70 Canadian Inuit leaders, which could have signified a far-reaching bid, at a minimum, for the country’s political and diplomatic patronage of Greenland and its related Inuit population, and at a maximum, in the equally distant future, in the event of a radical weakening or disintegration of the United States, for the incorporation of the Arctic island into its military and political framework in alliance with European countries willing to do so.
France’s approach is most simply formulated: Europe and France need Greenland for a full-fledged strategic presence in the Arctic as a military-political and economic part of Western Europe, for access to mineral resources, fishing grounds, shipping lanes, and scientific and environmental research. Having a presence there allows France to closely monitor the legal and political debates shaping these issues and exert greater influence.
Unlike Canada, with its weak non-strategic navy, France can back up its claims to increased influence in Greenland with nuclear weapons on its four Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and a force of approximately 8,000 soldiers well trained for military action in extreme Arctic conditions, in which it clearly outperforms the United States at the moment.
The predicted collapse of the United States, driven by acute hyper-polarization, systemic economic decay, or a total loss of federal legitimacy and a radical decline in authority on a global scale, could give France the opportunity to take the United States’ place in the North Atlantic and the Arctic region and create a “French arc” connecting France and French-speaking Canadian Quebec.
Coverage in Greenland—“We Are One People”
On Friday at 5 p.m., Greenland’s elite gathered for a reception at Hotel Hans Egede. Here, everyone from the various parties, former chairmen of the national government, directors of the self-government companies, and Canadian Inuit leaders celebrated the opening of Canada’s consulate.
Canadian Governor General Mary Simon gave her speech in three languages: English, French, and Inuktitut. As an Inuk leader from Nunavik, Quebec, she is the first Indigenous person to hold this vice-regal office.
Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, took the podium as the first speaker.
Then followed the Canadian minister of foreign affairs, Anita Anand, and Vivian Motzfeldt, minister of foreign affairs of Greenland.
All three gave diplomatic speeches about cooperation and joint development for Inuit in Canada and Greenland.
A Scary Time
The person with the sharpest messages was Natan Obed, chairman of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the organization representing 65,000 Inuit in Canada.
“We will probably soon live in a time when we cannot complain about the UN, NATO, or other institutions that have been operating for the last fifty years. But there are dozens of countries around the world that are showing their solidarity with us at this moment,” he said.
Natan Obed explained that he himself comes from Nunatsiavut and that Inuit follow the news about Greenland—news about what he called a “lack of respect” for human rights, the right to self-determination, and the right to one’s homeland.
“It is a scary time for us Inuit. I can’t imagine what it is like for Inuit here in Greenland.”
The ITK chairman therefore hopes that Inuit in Canada and Greenland can work together to show the world Inuit values.
Natan Obed said that Inuit are proud to be part of Canada, but that the good relationship has required hard work: “We have all been through colonialism as Inuit and tried to create constructive solutions with the nations we belong to. We are just as proud to be Canadian as we are to be Inuit. Such a relationship requires hard work over a long period of time.”
“Even though we are small populations spread over large areas of land, we use and value every centimeter of our land. When I look at a mountain, I know that my footprints are everywhere. This is also how you can understand the meaning of ownership.”
We Are One People
Natan Obed was not alone in including his personal stories in his speech.
Governor General Mary Simon also spoke about her upbringing as an Inuit.
Mary Simon began by discussing how Inuit have cooperated with one another long before the Western concept of diplomacy existed.
“Today we are not just raising a flag. It is a symbol that Arctic peoples share strong ties that go back to before diplomacy existed as we know it.”
Both Mary Simon and Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand expressed how Canada sees Inuit in Greenland as part of the same people.
“In my own family, we saw Inuit in Kalaallit Nunaat as our family; one people,” said Mary Simon, and continued:
“For generations we have traveled over land and sea. We shared a language and a culture, families knew each other, and we still do today. That will continue far into the future.”
When the minister of foreign affairs of Greenland, Vivian Motzfeldt, took the microphone, she built on the message of the future cooperation that the consulate will strengthen.
“The opening of the consulate strengthens cooperation in the many challenges that lie ahead, especially in our work for peace and sustainability in our Arctic region.”
When KNR spoke to Vivian Motzfeldt the day after the reception, she said that Greenland will reciprocate the gesture and open a representation in Canada to strengthen cooperation, perhaps in 2028.
France Is Getting Closer to Greenland
France’s plans to open a consulate were revealed by President Emmanuel Macron when he visited Greenland in June last year.
At that time, he emphasized France’s ambition to get closer to the Greenlandic people.
“We have decided to open a new consulate general here in Nuuk to be closer to you and stand by your side,” said Macron.
Since then, the crisis between Denmark, the United States, and Greenland has intensified as a result of President Donald Trump’s repeated statements about taking possession of Greenland.
The date for the opening of the French consulate was announced in January by the country’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, who stressed that the United States must stop putting pressure on Greenland.
“Attacking another NATO member would not make sense. It would also be contrary to the interests of the United States,” said Jean-Noël Barrot.
Greenland and Denmark Were Very Cautious About Trump
A former chairman of the Greenlandic government believes that they could have responded differently to Trump’s wishes.
This is what former chairman of the Greenlandic government Múte B. Egede told TV 2.
“We may have been on the verge of some naivety. We were very cautious—not just in Greenland and Denmark, but in the entire Western alliance. That could perhaps have been done differently,” said Múte B. Egede, who is currently the Greenlandic government’s minister of finance and taxes.
Asked what it could have done, he said he believes it could have gained some respect.
Since Donald Trump became president of the United States at the beginning of 2025, his desire for the United States to gain greater control over Greenland has repeatedly been in focus.
Has Affected the Population
Múte B. Egede emphasizes in the interview with TV 2 that he fully supports how his successor, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has handled the situation.
The former head of government told the media that the unrest surrounding Greenland has greatly affected society.
He does not believe that we can return to the Greenland that was 14–15 months ago. In a speech earlier this month, he spoke about the uncertainty that residents of Greenland live with.
Coverage in France—“Let’s Repel Trump’s Aggression Together”
France and Canada, which oppose the Trump administration’s plan to take control of Greenland, each inaugurated a consulate general in Nuuk, the capital of this autonomous Danish territory, on Friday, February 6, in recognition of the local government.
Arriving in Nuuk on Friday, the French consul general, Jean-Noël Poirier, officially took up his post the same day. He met with Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. “The political dimension of opening this post is real. It’s even quite obvious, given the events of recent months and the past year,” Mr. Poirier emphasized during a press briefing.
“It’s a victory for Greenlanders to see two allied countries opening diplomatic missions in Nuuk,” according to Jeppe Strandsbjerg, a political scientist affiliated with the University of Greenland. “Greenlanders greatly appreciate this support in the face of Trump’s remarks.”
The First EU Country to Open a Consulate in Greenland
Denmark and Greenland, which share Donald Trump’s stated concerns about Arctic security but reject any transfer of sovereignty, have received support from the Europeans—and in particular from France, which is pleased to be the first European Union country to open a consulate in Greenland.
A Recognition of the Island’s Growing Autonomy
“I arrive with a clear mandate to listen to what Greenlanders have to say about the future of their country,” explained Jean-Noël Poirier on France Inter radio on Friday. The consul currently has no office in Greenland, a city with only nine French citizens registered with the French consulate abroad.
Mr. Poirier also stated that he is “here to support French interests and French cooperation, which has a long history, and, of course, to better understand everything that is happening in this territory, in all areas.” The consul general will also support the few tourism businesses operating in the territory and the French scientists at the university and the scientific research center.
The French decision to open a consulate predates the recent tensions. It was announced in June 2025 during a visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Nuuk, where he came to express “European solidarity” with the island, already criticizing Donald Trump’s attempts to annex it. For its part, Canada announced at the end of 2024 that it would open a consulate general in the vast Arctic territory to strengthen cooperation with Greenlanders.
“The opening of these diplomatic missions allows Greenland to tell Donald Trump that his aggression toward Greenland and Denmark is not just a matter for Greenland and Denmark, but also for its European allies, as well as for Canada,” Ulrik Pram Gad, an Arctic specialist at the Danish Institute of International Studies, told AFP.
Diversifying Greenland’s Dependence on the Outside World
For Greenlandic diplomacy, the opening of consulates—which are formally dependent on the French and Canadian embassies in Copenhagen—is also “an opportunity to practice independence by establishing direct relations,” notes Jeppe Strandsbjerg. This is a form of recognition for the island’s growing autonomy, as defined in the 2009 framework law.
“Greenlanders will consider, within the framework of their own quest for sovereignty, establishing more direct contacts with other European countries,” analyzes Christine Nissen, an analyst at the think tank Europa and an expert in security and defense issues.
This allows them to “reduce the importance of Denmark’s role by diversifying Greenland’s dependence on the outside world, so that everything no longer comes solely from Denmark, but there are more relationships on the economic, commercial, and other levels,” adds Mr. Pram Gad.
Greenland has maintained diplomatic missions to the European Union since 1992, to Washington since 2014, and to Reykjavik since 2017. Iceland opened its consulate general in Nuuk in 2013, and the United States in 2020. From 1940 to 1953, the Americans had their first consulate in the Greenlandic capital. The European Commission opened an office there in 2024.
The French Consulate’s Function Is Primarily Strategic
At first glance, however, the logic behind the consulate seems difficult to grasp. Traditionally, a consulate’s primary mission is to assist French citizens abroad with administrative procedures, consular protection, and aid in times of crisis. However, in Greenland, the French community is extremely small. This argument alone is therefore insufficient to explain the opening of such a diplomatic representation.
In reality, the consulate’s function is primarily strategic. Having a consulate means that France establishes an official and permanent diplomatic presence in the territory. This allows France to engage directly with local authorities, monitor developments in Greenland’s legal framework, and defend its interests in a sensitive geopolitical context.
Greenland occupies a key position in the Arctic, an increasingly coveted region. The stakes are high: access to mineral resources, fishing grounds, shipping lanes, and scientific and environmental research. Having a presence there allows France to closely monitor the legal and political debates shaping these issues and to exert more influence.
Even though Greenland is no longer a member of the European Union, certain European regulations continue to apply, particularly regarding trade, fishing, and research. Through its consulate, France can ensure compliance with these standards, as well as defend the interests of its companies, researchers, and institutions operating in the Arctic region.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this consulate is not intended to fulfill a traditional consular function. It is part of a broader diplomatic strategy: to assert the French presence in the Arctic and to protect French and European law in an area that has become highly strategic.
Listening to the Greenlanders
The French consul general, Jean-Noël Poirier, arrived in Nuuk on Friday and took up his duties that same day. He met with Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
“The political dimension of opening this post is real. It’s even quite obvious, given the events of recent months and the past year,” Jean-Noël Poirier emphasized during a press briefing.
“The first thing is to listen to the Greenlanders, to hear them out, to let them explain their position to us in detail,” and to confirm France’s support, Jean-Noël Poirier, former French ambassador to Vietnam, told AFP as he departed for Nuuk.
Recognized Autonomy
For Greenlandic diplomacy, the opening of consulates—which are formally dependent on the French and Canadian embassies in Copenhagen—is also “an opportunity to practice independence by establishing direct relations,” notes Jeppe Strandsbjerg.
This is a form of recognition for Greenland’s growing autonomy, as defined in the 2009 framework law.
“Greenlanders will consider, as part of their own quest for sovereignty, having more direct contact with other European countries,” analyzes Christine Nissen, an analyst at the think tank Europa and an expert in security and defense issues.
Strengthening Cooperation With Greenland
In addition to its symbolic and political role, the French consulate general aims to strengthen ties between France and Greenland. Jean-Noël Poirier will be responsible for “deepening existing cooperation projects with Greenland in the cultural, scientific, and economic spheres, while also strengthening political ties with the local authorities,” the French Foreign Ministry stated in a press release issued Friday.
An Experienced Consul General
A graduate of INALCO, Jean-Noël Poirier began his career as a UN secondment officer in Cambodia from 1991 to 1993, according to Le Figaro. He then served as technical advisor to Hubert Védrine at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2000, and subsequently as consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 2000 to 2004. From 2005 to 2008, Jean-Noël Poirier worked directly for the ministry’s Northeast Asia Department before becoming France’s ambassador to Vietnam between 2012 and 2016. Following stints in consulting and business in Vietnam, he undertook a temporary assignment at the French Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, between February and September 2015. Prior to his appointment as consul general in Greenland, Jean-Noël Poirier headed the French delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Supporting the Fewer-Than-Ten-Person French Community in Greenland
The new consul general will also be dedicated to “serving the French community in Greenland,” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the French Foreign Ministry, fewer than ten French citizens are registered in Nuuk. Jean-Noël Poirier was scheduled to meet with them on Friday evening. He was also expected to assist the few tourism businesses operating there and the French scientists from the university and the scientific research center.
Initially, the new consul general will primarily need to familiarize himself with the territory and find an office. “Naturally, it won’t be a full-fledged consulate general for a country with a French presence of several thousand people. We need flexible facilities,” he explained, as quoted by Le Figaro. The new consul general in Greenland indicated that he could not yet say how many people would be on his team: “We’ll have as many as necessary to do a good job.”
Coverage in Canada—“Standing Together With Greenland and Denmark in the Long Term”
“The significance of raising this flag today and formally opening the consulate is that we will stand together with the people of Greenland and Denmark on many issues,” Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand, said, citing deepening ties on defense, security, climate change, economic resilience, and Arctic cooperation.
“The cooperation between Denmark, Greenland, and Canada will continue, not just in the short term, not just in the medium term, but in the long term.”
Canada announced plans for the new diplomatic mission in December 2024, before US President Donald Trump escalated his threats to annex the Danish territory.
The consulate took on new significance in recent weeks as NATO allies moved to back the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump demanded US control over Greenland and only recently stepped back from threats to use force to acquire the territory—after Danish leaders said the NATO military alliance would fall apart if the United States tried taking allied territory by force.
At the time, Greenland’s government had advised citizens to prepare enough supplies to survive for five days in the event of something like an invasion.
Greenland is an autonomous island within the Danish kingdom. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said repeatedly that any decisions about Greenland’s future are up to the people of Greenland and Denmark.
Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland’s foreign minister, said the consulate opening is a “historic day.”
“This is not just the opening of a building but a further strengthening of the friendship and cooperation between Greenland and Canada,” she said.
She told reporters Greenland will follow through on its plan to open a diplomatic mission in Canada, “hopefully in 2028.”
Anand told reporters Canadian companies are interested in exporting more to Greenland and that there is rising interest in more flights and collaboration on fighting climate change.
“This is much more than symbolism. This is really about building ties,” she said of the consulate.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed noted that more than ninety Inuit from Inuit Nunangat—the section of the Inuit homeland that is part of Canada—came to Greenland for the occasion.
“We just want to show just how much in solidarity we are with Inuit in Greenland and Greenland generally,” he said at the ceremony.
Not far from the Canadian consulate sits the Port of Nuuk, where Ottawa has anchored a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker. Anand has said that ship is meant to signal Ottawa’s support for Greenland’s territorial integrity.
Anand said Canadians and their allies are coming to understand how critical the Arctic is to protecting North America and Europe, a lesson she said she learned during her time as defense minister.
She said the visit is an example of the “principled pragmatism” guiding Canada’s foreign policy.
Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland’s foreign minister, said the consulate opening is a “historic day.”
“This is not just the opening of a building but a further strengthening of the friendship and cooperation between Greenland and Canada,” she said.
“I want to thank Canada for being a steadfast friend and supporter of Greenland, especially during challenging times,” she said.
Source:
- KNR (in Danish)
- KNR (in Danish)
- KNR (in Danish)
- Le Monde (in French)
- Vibration (in French)
- France24
- Le Dauphiné (in French)
- Toronto Today
- Vancouver CityNews
- The Albertan
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