France has announced it will open a consulate in Greenland next month, in a move described as a political signal of support for Danish sovereignty amid renewed US pressure on the Arctic territory.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the decision was taken last summer during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Greenland and the consulate is set to open on 6 February. He said the move would strengthen France’s presence on the island at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
The announcement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has again suggested that Washington should take control of Greenland, citing national security concerns and growing Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated this week that the territory would choose to remain aligned with Denmark rather than the United States.
Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers are due to hold talks with senior U.S. officials in Washington on Wednesday, as European allies seek to defuse the dispute and reinforce Greenland’s sovereignty within NATO and the European security framework.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Greenland’s prime minister has said the autonomous territory would choose to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark rather than become part of the United States, amid renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.
