French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Greenland on June 15, amidst growing tensions between the US and Denmark over the Arctic territory. The visit, hosted by Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, aims to strengthen cooperation on North Atlantic and Arctic security, climate change, energy transition, and critical minerals.
This development comes after US President Donald Trump’s repeated expressions of interest in controlling Greenland, sparking concerns from Denmark and Greenland. Trump stated, “We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it,” in a March interview. His Vice President, JD Vance, also visited a US military base in Greenland, suggesting the island could benefit from US partnership.
Denmark has firmly rejected the idea of selling Greenland, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen saying, “You cannot annex another country.” Frederiksen welcomed Macron’s visit, describing it as “another concrete testimony of European unity” in the face of a “difficult foreign policy situation.”
Greenland’s main political parties, which favor long-term independence, oppose joining the US. According to a poll, the island’s 57,000 inhabitants rejected becoming American. Nielsen emphasized the need for unity, stating, “It is very important that we put aside our disagreements and differences… because only in this way will we be able to cope with the heavy pressure we are exposed to from outside.”
Macron’s visit aims to “strengthen cooperation” with Greenland and “contribute to the strengthening of European sovereignty.” Denmark has pledged 14.6 billion Danish kroner ($2.1 billion) for Arctic security, including new naval vessels, drones, and satellites.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming visit to Greenland on June 15 is a significant move to bolster European unity and sovereignty in the face of US President Donald Trump’s annexation threats. The visit aims to strengthen cooperation on North Atlantic and Arctic security, climate change, energy transition, and critical minerals, while reaffirming Greenland’s autonomy within the Danish Kingdom. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has welcomed Macron’s visit, seeing it as a testament to European unity in a difficult foreign policy situation.