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Canada opened its embassy in the capital of Greenland and France’s first ambassador to Denmark arrived on Friday, following the Trump administration’s efforts to locate the island.
“I’m on my way to Nuuk to open a new Canadian embassy – strengthening Canada’s presence, cooperation, and leadership in the Arctic,” Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand wrote on X Friday morning, later posting a video of the Canadian flag being raised in Nuuk.
He was joined by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon.
Canada had previously announced plans for a consulate in 2024, but its opening in 2025 was delayed due to weather.
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Members of the Canadian diaspora gather in front of the Canadian consulate after its official opening, in Nuuk, Greenland on Friday. (Florent Vergnes/AFP via Getty Images)
“The future of the Arctic belongs to the people of the Arctic. Tomorrow I will visit Denmark and then on to Greenland,” said Simon in a speech earlier this week. “Let me be clear, Canada stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will decide their future.”
Jean-Noël Poirier also arrived in Nuuk to become the first Consul General of France in Greenland on Friday, the French government said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced an embassy in Nuuk in June, making it the first European Union country to set up an embassy in Greenland.
The French consulate is currently unavailable.
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Foreign Minister Anita Anand, right, speaks to the media following the flag raising at the new Canadian embassy in Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
“Deep ties of friendship and joint projects already connect France, Denmark and Greenland, allowing all parties to look forward with enthusiasm and confidence to the opening of this new governor-general,” said the French government.
It added, “France reiterates its commitment to respect Denmark’s territorial integrity.”
President Donald Trump has been pushing to buy Greenland, with administration officials saying Denmark cannot protect the sovereign island.
“Greenland is one-fourth the size of the United States,” senior White House aide Stephen Miller told Fox News last month. “Regarding Denmark, Denmark is a small country with a small economy and a small military. They cannot protect Greenland, they cannot control the territory of Greenland.”
Protesters in Greenland marched against the Trump administration’s efforts to annex the island in January. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
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In January, Trump threatened to impose tariffs of 10% that would rise to 25% in June on eight European countries, including France and Denmark, unless they let the US get Greenland.
The president downplayed the threat of tariffs following a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in which Trump said an “outline” for an Arctic security agreement had been reached.
The US reopened its consulate in Greenland in 2020 after closing it in 1953.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
