Washington’s threats to grab the strategic island have sparked a disaster amongst NATO states.
Printed On 14 Jan 2026
France is making ready to open a consulate in Greenland subsequent month in a transfer that it says displays the semiautonomous island’s need to stay a part of Denmark and the European Union.
International Minister Jean-Noel Barrot instructed the broadcaster RTL on Wednesday that the opening of the consulate within the self-governed Danish territory, scheduled for February 6, is a “political sign” amid the continued threats from United States President Donald Trump to take management of the island.
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“It’s a political sign that’s related to a need to be extra current in Greenland, together with within the scientific discipline,” Barrot mentioned.
“Greenland doesn’t need to be owned, ruled … or built-in into the USA. Greenland has made the selection of Denmark, NATO, [European] Union.”
The French international minister’s feedback got here as his Danish and Greenlandic counterparts, Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Vivian Motzfeldt, had been on account of meet US Vice President JD Vance in Washington, DC, to discuss the island.
Trump’s repeated statements that the Arctic territory can be introduced beneath US control “a method or one other” have created a disaster inside NATO.
European allies have warned that any takeover of the island would have serious repercussions for the connection between the US and Europe.
Trump has mentioned the US wants Greenland, the place Washington has lengthy maintained navy bases, because of the menace of a takeover posed by Russia and China. He claims that Denmark has uncared for the territory’s safety.
It’s additionally famous that Greenland has important mineral riches, together with oil and gasoline in addition to uncommon earths wanted for technological merchandise.
Denmark’s defence minister mentioned on Wednesday that it plans to “strengthen” its navy presence in Greenland and was in dialogue with its allies in NATO.
“We are going to proceed to strengthen our navy presence in Greenland, however we may even have an excellent larger focus inside NATO on extra workout routines and an elevated NATO presence within the Arctic,” Troels Lund Poulsen wrote in a press release to the AFP information company.
‘Massive downside’
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen mentioned on Tuesday that the territory wanted to remain a part of Denmark relatively than be a part of the US.
“We are actually dealing with a geopolitical disaster, and if we’ve to decide on between the USA and Denmark right here and now, we select Denmark,” he mentioned at a information convention in Copenhagen.
Requested about Nielsen’s feedback, Trump responded: “I disagree with him. I don’t know who he’s. I don’t know something about him. However that’s going to be a giant downside for him.”
The US president’s aggressive rhetoric continues to impress pledges of assist for Denmark and Greenland from different NATO nations.
Barrot mentioned the choice to open the consulate was taken in the summertime when President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland in a present of assist. Barrot mentioned he had visited the island in August to make plans for the consulate.
