Canada and France are set to open new consulates in Greenland on Friday, a move widely seen as a strong diplomatic signal backing the Danish autonomous territory amid renewed claims by US President Donald Trump.
Both countries have openly opposed Trump’s assertion that the United States should control Greenland, a vast, mineral-rich Arctic island of growing strategic importance. Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has repeatedly argued that Washington needs Greenland for security reasons.
Although Trump last month appeared to soften his stance—saying he had reached a “framework” agreement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence—a US–Denmark–Greenland working group has since been formed to address American security concerns in the Arctic. Details of the talks remain undisclosed.
Denmark and Greenland have acknowledged shared security interests with Washington but have made it clear that Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain non-negotiable.
“In a sense, it’s a victory for Greenlanders to see two allies opening diplomatic representations in Nuuk,” said Jeppe Strandsbjerg, a political scientist at the University of Greenland. “There is great appreciation for the support against what Trump has said.”
French President Emmanuel Macron first announced plans for a consulate during a visit to Nuuk in June, where he expressed Europe’s “solidarity” with Greenland and criticised US ambitions over the territory.
France’s new consul, Jean-Noël Poirier—formerly ambassador to Vietnam—said the priority would be engagement with Greenland’s leadership and people. “The first item on the agenda will be to listen to Greenlanders, to hear them explain their position, and to confirm our support, as much as they and the Danish side want,” Poirier told AFP before departing Copenhagen.
Canada, meanwhile, announced in late 2024 that it would open a consulate in Greenland as part of efforts to deepen cooperation and strengthen its Arctic strategy. The move coincided with expectations of Trump’s return to office, according to French Arctic researcher Mikaa Blugeon-Mered.
Experts say the dual openings send a broader geopolitical message. “It’s a way of telling Donald Trump that his aggression against Greenland and Denmark is not their problem alone,” said Ulrik Pram Gad of the Danish Institute of International Studies. “It’s also a question for European allies—and for Canada.”
Christine Nissen, a security and defence analyst at the Europa think tank, described the move as part of a wider European strategy.
“This is a small but important step in making the Greenland question European,” she said. “The consequences are not just Danish—they are European and global.”
Recognition of Growing Autonomy
The new consulates, which will report to the French and Canadian embassies in Copenhagen, are also being viewed as recognition of Greenland’s expanding self-rule under its 2009 Self-Government Act.
According to Strandsbjerg, the diplomatic presence will allow Greenland to “practise” greater independence as it continues to explore a future less tied to Denmark.
“For Greenlanders pursuing sovereignty, direct contact with other countries matters,” Nissen said, noting that expanded diplomatic ties could reduce reliance on Denmark by diversifying economic, political, and trade relationships.
Greenland has maintained diplomatic relations with the European Union since 1992, the United States since 2014, and Iceland since 2017. Iceland opened a consulate in Nuuk in 2013, while the United States—present in Greenland from 1940 to 1953—reopened its consulate there in 2020. The European Commission also established an office in Nuuk in 2024.
