President Emmanuel Macron Arrives in Greenland#

Emmanuel Macron discussed options for including Greenland in European security during his visit.

The head of state of the EU’s largest military power, Emmanuel Macron, flew north on Sunday to visit Greenland, sending a clear signal to the United States. Macron took a message of the whole European unity in light of statements from the United States that it wants to take control of Greenland.

Macron himself said last Monday at a UN meeting that Greenland is not for sale. A statement that is apparently directed at US President Donald Trump and his statements about wanting to buy the island.

“‎I will say that we are here and that we are ready to reinvest,”‎ Macron also said before the visit.

The French president was expected to arrive at 11:30 local time.

He was accompanied by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Greenlandic Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

During the visit, Macron discussed Arctic security and opportunities to include Greenland in European security measures.

This must be done in a way that respects Greenland’s sovereignty, France emphasized.

Mette Frederiksen arrived in Greenland on Saturday, where Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed her.

The fact that both heads of government are welcoming Macron with open arms stands in stark contrast to the reception given by US Vice President J.D. Vance, got it.

Both Denmark and Greenland criticized his visit.

The vice president ended up visiting only the American base Pituffik.

Here he gave a speech to the soldiers, during which he said that Denmark had not treated the Greenlandic people properly and that Danish politicians had neglected international security by not investing enough in defense.

The base forms an important part of the American missile defense in the Arctic, and the American government has repeatedly stated that Greenland is necessary for American security.

• Source: Sermitsiaq (in Danish)

Greenland: Macron Visits Greenland: This Is What They Say#

Just before the two planes with representatives and French President Emmanuel Macron land, Jens-Frederik Nielsen states that there are good opportunities for cooperation with France.

I am glad that he has accepted our invitation and is now visiting. He has distanced himself from the talk that our country can be taken over and he points out the importance of land and laws that everyone must respect. We should be happy that he shows such great support for us.

“‎It is serious that another country wants to take control of another country. But it is also important that we create ties with countries that value cooperation highly. France has previously emphasized that it is important that international laws must be respected and that countries’ borders are respected,”‎ says Jens-Frederik Nielsen, among other things.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is also pleased with Emmanuel Macron’s support during the American pressure that has hung over the heads of the Commonwealth for the past six months.

• Source: Sermitsiaq (in Danish)

Macron On His Way Back to Nuuk#

The director of the Greenland Chamber of Commerce, Christian Keldsen, was among those who followed today’s activities at the port.

“‎Yes, we had to go down and see the antics. It’s incredibly exciting that we’ve had Macron visit us,”‎ says Christian Keldsen to Sermitsiaq.

“‎There are already good, long-standing relations between France and Greenland. France is strong in energy, industry and green transition. Much of what is happening with our subsoil right now is relevant to them,”‎ he emphasizes.

So will the business community also get something out of the visit?

Yes, without a doubt. The visit focuses on Greenland as a business-active place with opportunities. I definitely expect that we will see more French interest in cooperation with Greenland, both in the business community and at the political level, says Christian Keldsen.

President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed with the EU flag at the airport. He greatly appreciated that.

“‎It is very touching to see the flag and the connection to the European idea, because I believe we share the same values,”‎ said the president, according to DR.

Political commentator Hans Engell addresses the same theme:

“‎Macron wants to try to tie Greenland closer to Europe. He sees it in a larger geopolitical context,”‎ he states on TV 2 News.

Together we will strengthen cooperation with Greenland in these areas and contribute to strengthening Europe’s sovereignty, the president promises.

Emmanuel Macron, Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen arrived at the frigate Niels Juel in Nuuk harbour. They held a meeting there.

Students from the Arctic Command’s basic training are ready to welcome the guests on the frigate.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he is ready to create more cooperation on the Arctic, and that he is calling on other countries, including the U.S., to cooperate on the Arctic instead of creating conflicts in the region.

• Source: Sermitsiaq (in Danish)

Macron Visits Greenland in the Shadow of the Great Powers – France Offers Military Help#

France’s support is both diplomatic and possibly military. Greenland is emerging as a player in global foreign policy, expert assesses.

Later today, French President Emmanuel Macron will land in Nuuk. The visit is historic and marks France’s support for Greenland - especially in light of the American wishes for takeover.

Since the Greenlanders’ government was inaugurated, Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenlanders’ Minister for Foreign Affairs, has traveled to Paris and Brussels to meet with the French Foreign Minister and diplomats.

On March 26, she issued a press release stating that a data center will be established in Greenland and that French researchers are welcome in the country. At the same time, she has repeatedly spoken about creating greater cooperation between Greenland and France.

But in parallel, a much larger diplomacy has unfolded. The Foreign Policy Council in France has approved a declaration that it is willing to help Greenland militarily – including by deploying French soldiers if Greenland so wishes.

Now, the recent diplomatic talks are culminating in a French charm offensive in Nuuk.

Emmanuel Macron’s visit is not just a signal of friendship with Greenland. He can use his visit as a backdrop to send a clear signal to the USA – but also to the EU.

This is according to Ulrik Pram Gad, senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) with a focus on the Arctic and geopolitics.

France has been trying for decades to persuade the other EU countries that the EU should not only be a trade partnership, but also be able to project military power in the world.

The U.S.’s desire for Greenlandic control

On December 23, 2024, Donald Trump stated that he believes the US should have ownership of Greenland. Since then, the message has been repeated in various ways by both himself and his staff.

On January 7, Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., landed in Nuuk, which drew the entire world’s attention to Greenland.

On the same day, the future president said that he would not rule out using economic or military coercion to gain control of Greenland - despite the fact that the US and Denmark are both members of NATO and despite the fact that the U.S. has had a military presence in Greenland since World War II.

French demonstration of power

France has been one of the first countries to show its support for Greenland, after Donald Trump in December again expressed his desire for an American-controlled Greenland.

Ulrik Pram Gad, Senior Research Fellow at the Danish Institute for International Studies with a focus on Arctic politics, believes that there are several reasons for this. Firstly, France itself has a rich history of both colonialism and decolonization. In addition, there have been many French anthropologists in Greenland over the years.

It creates a bit of a Knud Rasmussen variety in their popular culture. It may influence French preconceptions about Greenland more than so many other countries.

But most importantly, the support – and thus the visit – is a way for France to take the lead in a new foreign policy and military direction for the EU – and Greenland is the perfect opportunity for this.

“‎France has always wanted to be a great power and has therefore not followed the US in the same way. That is why they have always believed that the EU should be able to do something on its own - which they have put themselves in the forefront of.”‎

Greenland on the world stage

It is unclear whether the president will negotiate with the Greenlandic government and Denmark during the visit. But Ulrik Pram Gad assesses that the visit is more symbolic than practical.

“‎Macron wants to show the U.S. that they cannot just bully us as they please. Therefore, it is more a symbol of the goodwill and the project that France wants to demonstrate,”‎ he explains and elaborates:

“‎Normally, heads of state only arrive when an agreement has been reached or the final details have to be worked out. It could also be that the visit is used to kick-start some processes.”‎

With Vivian Motzfeldt’s invitation to Emmanuel Macron, Ulrik Pram Gad explains that Greenland is now in a unique situation on the world stage.

Because as a small population that does not normally have an independent foreign policy, the French visit and the population’s rejection of the American vice president show that Greenland is able to set a direction.

“‎It is very interesting for such a small population. You can obviously invite or reject and in that way help shape the way public diplomacy is conducted.”‎

• Source: KNR (in Danish)