Canada, France opening consulates in Greenland amid Trump takeover talk

Canada and France announced Friday they will open diplomatic consulates in Greenland, a move to side with Denmark amid tensions between the country and the U.S. after President Trump threatened to take control of the self-governed Arctic territory.

Canadian officials, including Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Governor General Mary Simon, will travel to Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday to inaugurate the Canadian consulate.

“I am en route to Nuuk for the opening of Canada’s new consulate — strengthening Canada’s presence, partnerships, and leadership in the Arctic,” Anand posted on the social platform X early Friday.

Canadian officials said the consulate will also be able to help facilitate collaboration on issues like Indigenous rights and climate change. Melting sea ice due to global warming in the Arctic influences weather patterns worldwide, causing stronger storms, flooding and sea level rise in the U.S. and other countries.

Like Greenland, Canada is also considered partly Arctic. The North American country is also home to a large Indigenous population. Canada had already announced the new consulate in early 2024, and its opening, which was supposed to occur in late 2025, was postponed due to inclement weather.

Canada “stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future,” Simon said in a speech ahead of the trip.

French officials will also open a consulate in Greenland on Friday, making it the first European Union country to do so. The U.S. and Iceland are the only two other countries with diplomatic consulates on the territory.

The French Foreign Ministry said its newly appointed consul general, Jean-Noël Poirier, will be “tasked with working to deepen existing cooperation projects with Greenland in the cultural, scientific, and economic fields, while also strengthening political ties with the local authorities.”

Trump has repeatedly threatened that the U.S. intends to acquire Greenland, which has become increasingly important strategically given its rare earth materials and its position in the Arctic, where shipping is increasing because of climate change. Trump has attributed his desire to acquire the territory to national security.

Trump originally implied he would use military force to overtake Greenland and attempted to pressure European allies by threatening tariffs. But he walked back on his language saying he instead is pursuing a “deal” with Greenland. He also canceled tariffs on European countries.

“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump said in a Truth Social post while in Davos, Switzerland during the World Economic Forum last month. “This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations.” (Source: The Hill)